Ottawa Past and PresentA few decades ago, Ottawa was drastically different: Sparks street was thriving, people were actually living downtown and at LeBreton Flats and a train could bring you to the heart of downtown. The narrow and institutionalized vision of bureaucrats and the rapid expansion of the car use changed the urban fabric of the Capital.
The Gréber plan and the NCC transformed Ottawa for the worst.
One building at a time.
http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com/
Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:39:58 EST2017-11-12 22:39:48North End of the Byward Markethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-end-of-the-byward-market/531/
Vanier Hall - University of OttawaThe archival photo shows Vanier Hall before the construction of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS).We like how the FSS had been integrated into this rather constrain area between the Vanier Hall and Nicholas Street.We don't like how Nicholas Street has been transformed into a highway.Ottawa latest LRT will run between Nicholas Street and the FSS.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/vanier-hall-university-of-ottawa/530/
Perez Hall & Former Sacré-Coeur ChurchThe back of the current Department of Visual Arts was visible from this point of view when a field of grass and a small house occupied the area where Perez Hall has been built. &nbsp;We can see the steeple of Sacré-Coeur Church is visible in the background. &nbsp;The church burnt down on November 24th 1978.It seems that parking bylaws were less strict than they are nowadays.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/perez-hall-former-sacre-coeur-church/529/
Back of Montpetit HallThe back on Montpetit Hall, at the corner of University and Louis-Pasteur Privates, has not changed much over the last 40 years. &nbsp;Trees were planted and a bicycle lane was added in this area of University of Ottawa where still a lot of concrete can be looked at.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/back-of-montpetit-hall/528/
Wallis House from the MacDonald Gardens ParkThis photo taken from the hill of MacDonald Gardens Park in Ottawa offers an interesting view on Wallis House of Rideau Street. Quite interesting to see Charlotte Street going through the actual MacDonald Gardens Park and splitting it into 2 sections.
The archival photo was taken in 1968 and shows an vacant lot where the imposing 160 Charlotte Street is now standing.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wallis-house-from-the-macdonald-gardens-park/527/
Tabaret Hall of University of OttawaTabaret Hall hardly changed over the last 40 years. Its surrounding, however, has changed substantially with the addition of numerous tall buildings like Desmarais Hall and the apartments of the 50 Laurier. Please note the evolution of the trees on the right, next to the removed parking lot.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/tabaret-hall-of-university-of-ottawa/526/
Corktown Footbridge
This comparison shows again, from a different perspective, the Stanton and Marchand residences along the Rideau Canal. The hill that was created to host the Corktown Footbridge in 2005 now hides the Colonel By Drive which was clearly visible in the 1970’s. Used by closed to 10 000 people daily, the Corktown Footbridge had been a successful (probably the most successful active transportation link the whole city) and link the Golden Triangle and the Campus Station.
Despite the obvious success of the Corktown Footbridge, the City of Ottawa is still giving the cold shoulder to active transportation infrastructures. For example, the city of Ottawa will be investing a record-high $70 millions from 2013 to 2031 for active transportation infrastructure, which seems like a lot. Putting this number back in perspective, it is a ridiculous number. During the same period, the city of Ottawa will have spent close to $6000 millions on road maintenance and road expansion. The ratio between the two figures is 1.1%. There is about 20% of commuters that uses their bikes or feet to get to work versus roughly 60% who uses their car for a ratio of ~30%. That shows that the city of Ottawa invests ~25X more than it should into its road network.
A city that takes its citizens well-being and has a strong will to curb green-house gas emission invests massively in active transportation modes. Unfortunately, this is far from being the case here in Ottawa, despite what Mayor Watson keeps repeats. Over the years, we came to conclude that Jim Watson has no ability to understand urban issues and demonstrated his incompetence in several city-building files (LRT, central library, PoW bridge, etc.).
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corktown-footbridge/525/
Rideau Canal with Stanton & Marchand ResidenceThe view of University of Ottawa from the Rideau Canal had a few important addition like the Faculty of Social Sciences and the other residences.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-with-stanton-marchand-residence/524/
Former Macdonald Hall at University of OttawaBoth photos show the former Macdonald Hall. The Hall was demolished a few weeks after the 2016 photos was taken in order to make room for the new STEM Complex that will be built at the same location.
The bungalow type building in front of the archival photo was part of series of buildings of the same type and were called The Barracks.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-macdonald-hall-at-university-of-ottawa/523/
Looking South on Nicholas Street at Laurier Avenue
This comparison, and the many that will follow, gives an idea of what Nicholas Street used to be compared to the long 417 Queensway off ramp and onramp that it is now.
As the archival photo shows, the modest Nicholas Street had some flaws; it had several parking lots along it and it was not really connecting to anything at its south end, but it was a street with buildings interfacing with it. It certainly contrasts with thoroughfare that it has become where its sole purpose is to facilitate downtown access to commuters reaching the city centre using the Queensway. At some point, it was laid out to be part of the missing link between highways connecting Ottawa and Gatineau which never really materialized itself.
Now that the discussion to build a tunnel to link the two highway systems seems to be back on the priority list, we would expect the number of vehicles using Nicholas to be reduced considerably. This might be the opportunity to repurpose Nicholas Street, most likely north of where the photos where taken, into a more urban street by reducing its capacity, widening its sidewalks and get rid of its highway feel.
We have little hope that this will even cross the mind anyone at city hall as there is no appetite right now from Ottawa’s officials to balance budget allocation for car-centric projects versus active transportation projects as any projects of this realm have been filed under “war of cars” projects which is obviously a threat to the masses’ lifestyle (and Watson’s re-election). Watson thinks he is a champion of transit, but over the last eight years he has been into power, never in the history of Ottawa we have seen such an increase in road capacity within the core with the widening of Scott Street, Albert Street, the hospital link and the removal of hundreds of buses from Slater and Albert Streets.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/looking-south-on-nicholas-street-at-laurier-avenue/522/
Former Supermarket on OsgoodeThe Osgoode IGA Grocery Store occupied the space of the Mac’s on Osgoode Street. On the East side of the grocery store had Quinn’s Candy &amp; Cigarette convenience store and an electronic TV and radios sales and repair store. This substitution illustrates the struggle and death of independent grocers replaced by corner stores operating under a known banner. Over the last decade, Boushey’s and Goldstein Fresh Mart on Elgin Street have been replaced by a Quickie and a Dollarama.
From the archival photo, you can barely see the 3-story house that was standing on the parking west of the Mac’s store. A laundry business occupied the ground floor of that house.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-supermarket-on-osgoode/521/
Former Cobourg & St. Patrick IntersectionThe archive photo from 1968 depicts an intersection that no longer exists: &nbsp;St. Patrick and Cobourg Streets. &nbsp;Technically, the intersection of Cobourg and St. Patrick still exists but it has been moved to the west to accommodate a curve in Cobourg Street that did not exist back in 1968.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-cobourg-st-patrick-intersection/520/
St. Patrick Street Near Beausoleil DriveFormer traditional main street, St. Patrick Street (now Old St. Patrick) is a shell of its former self. Back in the day, St. Patrick had shops and stores, relatively limited in number, but still, enough so that the street was a destination for many residents of the neighbourhoods. Today, emptiness one on side and garage doors and backyards on the other transformed Old Saint-Patrick Street in just another street in the Lowertown East. http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-patrick-street-near-beausoleil-drive/519/
York Street & Beausoleil DrivePhoto of some modest dwellings on Friel Street (now Beausoleil Drive) in Lowertown East. &nbsp;The York Street Elementary School is in background.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/york-street-beausoleil-drive/518/
Jules-Morin Park & Myrand StreetThis comparison
shows an area that was left more or less untouched by the craze of the CHMC
sponsored urban renewal that changed the face of Lowertown East forever.&nbsp; In fact, the block between St. Patrick
Street, Myrand Street and Augusta Street was the only one unaltered at the end
of the 3 phases of the urban renewal project.
The 2015
photo shows Jules-Morin Park, Myrand Street and Patro Street.&nbsp; Patro Street is the product of the
partitioning of Augusta Street, which use to reach St.Patrick Street, into
Heney Street and Patro Street. By making this division, connectivity and
fluidity of movements was greatly reduced in this area of Lowertown East.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/jules-morin-park-myrand-street/517/
Former Notre-Dame Street in Lowertown EastNotre-Dame Street was located at the north-end of Lowertown East in Ottawa.The North-South street used to run where the soccer field of the École secondaire De-La-Salle is nowadays.Simply put, St. Anne Church is lonely these days compared to the 1968 picture.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-notre-dame-street-in-lowertown-east/516/
McGree Street & St. Patrick StreetThis comparison shows the destruction of the heritage buildings in Lowertown East in Ottawa in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
McGee Street used to run North-South and was about 100 meters long. Its sole purpose was to link St-Patrick Street and St. Andrew Street. L’École secondaire De-La-Salle still stands at the same location.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/mcgree-street-st-patrick-street/515/
North-West Corner of Rideau and Chapel StreetsThis comparison of the Rideau and Chapel Streets intersection shows the 160 Chapel, a 22-story apartment building, and the one-of-kind building that used to occupy the same spot in 1968.
Lately, Some attention is being drawn at this intersection because of a large development project lead by the Trinity group where 2 towers of 20+ story will be built. Chapel Street north of Rideau Street in currently a dead-end but Trinity Group wants to (re-)connect it to Beausoleil Drive to increase connectivity in this area and make their project more appealing. That being said, Mathieu Fleury, the Rideau-Vanier city councillor, opposes the opening of Chapel to Beausoleil Drive citing security concerns. Formerly, Chapel Street was continuous from Lowertown East to Sandy Hill.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-west-corner-of-rideau-and-chapel-streets/514/
York & Nelson Streets Looking South
This section of Nelson Street, intersecting with York Street, &nbsp;took a hit when the urban renewal became a reality in Lowertown East and wiped all the existing houses so that none of the ones shown on the 1968 picture were still existing in 2015. The typical Ottawan houses on the archival pictures have been replaced by social housing which are less integrated with the street.
The numerous parking spots were placed right against the street and created empty buffer zone between the street and the building. This off-street configuration is definitely more suburban than urban which is really ashamed considering the central location of this intersection.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/york-nelson-streets-looking-south/513/
Former St.Patrick and Chapel Intersection.
This comparison shows how badly Lowertown East in Ottawa had regressed from an urban planning point of view from the tumultuous changes the neighbourhood went through in the early 1970s.
First off, the Chapel-St. Patrick intersection does not exist anymore. St. Patrick which was connecting with all the North-South streets of the area had now become this long and isolated linear segment as if the architects in charge of the urban renewal of Lowertown wanted to completely isolate it from the rest of the area.
We often mention that St. Patrick Street was a traditional main street. The archival photo demonstrates the quantity and also the variety of commercial spaces of this former hub in the neighbourhood: a grocery store, a pharmacy and a hardware store allowed the residents of the area to do their shopping by foot.
The loss of density is also striking on that comparison. A three-story mixed-used building has been replaced by a bungalow commercial space for which nobody had the decency to place the main entrance of that commercial space fronting St. Patrick.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-st-patrick-and-chapel-intersection-/512/
Former St. Patrick and Island Lodge Intersection
The former St. Patrick Street in Lowertown East in Ottawa was much friendlier than what it became nowadays with the massive reconfiguration it went through in the 1970s. With a much more modest width, the former St. Patrick Street (now the Old St. Patrick) was a traditional main street with its stores, dwellings and pedestrians.&nbsp;The new configuration of St. Patrick Street as a major thoroughfare in the National Capital Region directly contributed to lower the intrinsic value of one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Ottawa.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-st-patrick-and-island-lodge-intersection/511/
Former Notre-Dame Street in Lowertown EastThis comparison shows how much Lowertown East had changed when the urban renewal program of the City of Ottawa was implemented in the late 1960s.&nbsp;The plan had for mission to clean up the blight houses of the area and to segregate the different usages required by the community. &nbsp;Clearly, Notre-Dame Street was not part of the plan and was replaced by the École secondaire De-La-Salle.The only building still up is the Embassy of the People's Republic of China on the right on the photo.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-notre-dame-street-in-lowertown-east/510/
East-End of St. Patrick StreetThis post is the first of a long series about Lowertown East in Ottawa. The CHMC released a large collection of photos taken in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s where they documented how Canadians lived in large urban centers. &nbsp;The collection from Lowertown East is eloquent.The archive photo shows the north side of a section of Saint Patrick Street west of Cobourg Street. &nbsp;The street has been renamed "Old Saint Patrick Street" since the new curved thoroughfare took the name Saint Patrick Street (a bit like what they have done in Moscow with the Arbats). &nbsp;The old street has been shortened and now stops at Cobourg Street.&nbsp;The houses on the archive photos were facing the street which would make them interact with it. &nbsp;Today, &nbsp;strips of grass and enclosed backyards are now fronting the once traditional main street. &nbsp;This kind of configuration is obviously a deterrent to community build up and thriving streets.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/east-end-of-st-patrick-street/509/
Intersection of Lloyd Street and Former Railway TracksThe former light industrial building occupied the whole street block formed by Lloyd&nbsp;Street, Booth&nbsp;Street, Wellington Street and the train tracks.After a 50 year hiatus, the workers are now back at Lebreton Flats on that exact same location to build the Pimisi station of Ottawa's new LRT system.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/intersection-of-lloyd-street-and-former-railway-tracks/508/
598 Wellington Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe archival photo shows the 598 Wellington Street with all of its architectural details.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/598-wellington-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/506/
90 Booth Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 90 Booth Street was located at the corner of Booth Street and Oregon Street. It was located more or less where the Canadian War Museum is nowadays.&nbsp; The 2015 photos gives a nice preview of what the&nbsp;big heads&nbsp;at the NCC have for the&nbsp;Flats:&nbsp; roads as wide as rivers and patriotic icons/monuments.&nbsp; ***** Update *****I guess we were fooled by the address in Google and the photo has been taken at the wrong location. &nbsp;We will reshoot it soon.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/90-booth-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/505/
643 Wellington Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaFormer building at the corner of Wellington Street and Lloyd Street.Lloyd Street has been wiped off the map for several decades.&nbsp; It had been reintroduced a few years ago as phase&nbsp;2 of the redevelopment of the Eastern part of Lebreton Flats has been started by Claridge.&nbsp; That being said, Lloyd Street is now a&nbsp;shadow of its former self since only the section between Queen Street (now Fleet Street) and Ottawa Street has been revived.&nbsp; Lloyd Street used to run from Duke Street to Wellington Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/643-wellington-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/504/
112 Sherwood Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 3-story building really contrasts with the emptiness of nowadays. http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/112-sherwood-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/503/
594 Wellington Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 594 Wellington Street was located on the south side of Wellington Street, about 100 meters east of Booth Street. &nbsp;The 2015 photo was taken last May and the current site has substantially changed as it has been excavated by several tens of meters to make room for the new Pimisi LRT station. &nbsp;Speaking of LRT, the Pimisi station is one of 6 stations (out of the 13 stations) that will either be built in the middle of nowhere (Pimisi, Bayview and Hurdman) or so close to the Queensway and its interchanges (Lees, Blair and Cyrville) that it will seriously impact how transit users can get to the stations.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/594-wellington-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/502/
77 Sherwood Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 77 Sherwood Street most likely had four apartments.&nbsp;Sherwood Street was oriented along the North-South direction and was located between Broad Street and Booth Street.The public plaza in front of the War Museum now occupies the same site nowadays.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/77-sherwood-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/501/
49 Booth Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 49 Booth Street in Lebreton Flats was occupied by a light industrial building, probably a production centre for the J.H. Connor &amp; Son washing machines if we relate to the advertisement on the North side of the building.Booth Street is currently under massive redesign to host the new LRT station. &nbsp;The enclosed area shown on the 2015 picture has been targeted for a temporary renewal (propably so they get good pictures when they will inaugurate the memorial for the Holocaust victims across the street from there) until the NCC finds a better usage for the site. &nbsp;At the speed at which the NCC is dealing with their projects, nothing is more permanent than something temporary. &nbsp;That being said, they probably have in their pipeline another memorial since what could be better at the end the planned Memorial Route than an orgy of memorials to boost Canadian pride and patriotism. &nbsp;Pathetic.&nbsp;Here is a discussion about the NCC shift.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/49-booth-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/500/
675 Wellington Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe former 3-story building that occupied the 675 Wellington Street in Ottawa was the next door neighbour of Denis Ranger Drug Store at the corner of Booth and Wellington.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/675-wellington-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/499/
Former Booth Street & Duke Street IntersectionThis comparison demonstrates a bit more the industrial past of Lebreton Flats. &nbsp;We don't have the exact story of the buildings shown on the archival photo, but it seems that the garage at the corner of Duke and Booth had a certain affinity with Seiberling Tires from the numerous ads on the buildings. &nbsp;The local company Baker Bros., still in activity under the name of Baker Brothers Iron &amp; Metal, occupied the imposing 5 story building, the tallest building of Lebreton Flats at that time.Speaking of height, it looked like the tallest point in Centretown in 1962 was the Christ Church Cathedral which is visible at a distance on the right-hand side on both photos.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-booth-street-duke-street-intersection/498/
165 Booth Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe form Glover's Grocery &amp; Meat Market was located at the South-East corner of &nbsp;Booth and Wellington Street. &nbsp;The church on the left-hand side on the photo is the Église unie Saint-Marc that was located on Wellington Street up until 1965 when it had to move and relocate at the corner of Lewis Street and Elgin Street in the Golden Triangle.The new LRT station at Lebreton Flats, Pimisi, will be built exactly where the 165 Booth Street was more than fifty years ago.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/165-booth-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/497/
179 Broad Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThis 3-story building was located at 179 Broad Street in Lebreton Flats, Ottawa.The desolating aspect of the current state of this part of town is a reminder of how poorly the NCC have dealt with Lebreton Flats for over half a century.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/179-broad-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/496/
673 Wellington Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaDenis Ranger drug store occupied the former north-west corner of Wellington Street and Booth Street in 1962 at Lebreton Flats. &nbsp;Up until 1928, it had been the Nolan Drug Store, owned by Patrick “Paddy” Nolan who became a mayor of Ottawa a few years later. In 1928, it was purchased by a native son of the “Flats”, Denis E. Ranger, who had recently graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy. He remained the owner until the 1963 expropriation.A family, most likely residents of the Flats, was crossing the street when the archival photo was taken.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/673-wellington-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/495/
50 Ottawa Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 50 Ottawa Street at the intersection of Booth Street was once again light years away from where the same location is in 2015. &nbsp;The 3-story building had interesting architectural details like its pronounced cornice and the tiles at the entrance of the shops. &nbsp;A confectionery and Up Town Rose Lunch occupied the commercial space on the ground floor.Ottawa Street was running East-West and was located North of Albert Street.We can even see two kids (one is hidden and we can only see one wheel of his tricycle) running down Ottawa Street with their tricycle. This is really a small detail in the photo, but reveals an important aspect of the former Lebreton Flats: security. &nbsp;This photo was not staged and it shows that the flats were secure enough to have parents let their kids play on the street. &nbsp;This would never happen nowadays as it is impossible to think that someone could let their kids play on the Booth Street, Albert Street or Si John A. Macdonald Parkway. &nbsp;Despite having stated that the revitalization of Lebreton Flats is a priorty for both the city of Ottawa and the NCC, its implementation is broken in many ways. &nbsp;For example, by widening Albert Street they prioritize cars and commuters over other alternative mean of transportation. &nbsp;This absolute and short-sighted priority is in contradiction with the $2B invertment into the LRT that will serve Lebreton Flats (Pimisi). &nbsp;It is as if they really want to have the train to be empty.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/50-ottawa-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/494/
82 Fleet Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe 82 Fleet Street shows the ambiance and lifestyle that used to exist in Lebreton Flats. &nbsp;The 3-story building with a grocery store on the ground floor surely contrasts with the improvised parking sitting on former lot F-8-19 when the photo of 2015 was taken.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/82-fleet-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/493/
72-74 Fleet Street, Lebreton Flats, Ottawa
This mix-used building was located at 72 and 74 Fleet Street at Lebreton Flats.
For more than 40 years, Fleet Street disappeared from the cadaster of Lebreton Flats after the NCC expropriated the whole neighbourhood to build the Defense headquarter. This project was never started. The street came back to life in ~2008 when the heavy-weight developer Claridge, who finished third in the contest to redevelop the Flats, started to build the first phase of its project.
As a reminder, the CNN did everything it could to get ordinary and blend projects as it refused to break down the area into smaller lot which would have opened up the bidding to smaller builders. They repeated the exact same error 10 years later when they called for a sole developer for re-purposing the west portion of Lebreton Flats.
This was lot R-6-P-3.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/72-74-fleet-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/492/
Palace House, 183, Broad Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThe Palace House was located on Broad Street, last street on the west-side of Lebreton Flats.From the inscription on top of the building name. it looks like the Palace House was one of the buildings built on the re-birth of Lebreton Flats after the fire of 1900.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/palace-house-183-broad-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/491/
547 Wellington Street, Lebreton FlatsBuilt in 1873, the manse of the Western Methodist Church, architecturally interesting building, occupied the 547 Wellington Street in Lebreton Flats in 1962.&nbsp;&nbsp;Miraculously, the manse and the church survived the 1900 fire which demolish two thirds of Hull and 20% of Ottawa. &nbsp;Fifty years later,&nbsp;the building survied a first&nbsp;phase of&nbsp;demolition in the 1950s&nbsp;when several building and industries were expropriated and turned to dust in order to build the Garden of the Provinces. &nbsp;Sadly, the Garden of the Provinces is isolated and underused which makes it pointless.Phase 1 and 2 of Claridge's development is trying to bring back city dwellers to this once working class neighbourhood expropriated and demolished by the NCC and which did not bother to do anything with it for more than 50 years. A lot of people seem to dislike those new buildings, but we disagree and think it could be the beginning of a new era for the flats.The west-end of the LRT tunnel is located on the left-hand side of that picture.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/547-wellington-street-lebreton-flats/490/
93-95 Sherwood Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaThose two houses were located at 93 and 95 Sherwood Street in Lebreton Flats. Sherwood Street was running North-South between Booth Street and Broad Street. It was obviated in 1962 when the National Capital Commission (NCC) expropriated the Flats for its grandiose but yet-to-be-defined-fifty-years-later plan.
The problem is not that 93 and 95 Sherwood Street were one-of-kind residences, but rather by what they have been replaced. Wellington Street and Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (on the 2015 photo) is problematic for the renewal they keep promising. With their 8 lanes (12-foot wide) and road medians, this main road does everything to ease commuters’ trips and nothing for pedestrians’ security and friendliness of the area.
Don’t fool yourself, the City of Ottawa and the NCC gives full freedom to traffic engineers to design their “dreamed” thoroughfare and then, it is up to the urban planners to work around these oversized roads and make it “friendly”, which is a moot point. With such way of doing, Lebreton Flats is condemned to be another area where car is king and overruling other aspects which could have consolidated the area into a distinct, thriving and “world class” neighbourhood (as they like to call it).
Unfortunately, the City of Ottawa continues to invest disproportionate amount of money into road when a miniscule transfer of that money into active transportation infrastructures like pedestrian bridges, plazas and bike path would create a real benefit for the community. They are stuck in the 1970s.
This lot was lot&nbsp;R-2-P-26.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/93-95-sherwood-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/489/
185 to 197 Broad Street, Lebreton Flats, OttawaOnce again, this comparison shows NCC's incompetence when it comes to urban planning. &nbsp;The buildings shown on the archival photo (not the 2015 photo since there is nothing left) were the last ones on Broad Street before hitting Albert Street. &nbsp;Broad Street was the western limit of Lebreton Flats and was the densest street of the neighbourhood with the majority of the buildings having 3 stories. The building with the balcony was the Palace House. &nbsp;The photo below shows what is left of Broad Street after 50 years of non-action and being ignored by the NCC. &nbsp;
It is only lately that the NCC is trying to prioritize the redevelopment of Lebreton Flats with an RFQ calling for developers of international stature to bid on it. &nbsp;After extending the deadline for bidders, they finally selected 4 projets, all coming from local developers.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/185-to-197-broad-street-lebreton-flats-ottawa/488/
Former Intersection of Wellington & Albert Streets at Lebreton FlatsThis non-common intersection from the non-square angle between Wellington and Albert Streets in Lebreton Flats has stropped existing in 1962, year at which the NCC expropriated everyone and their dog from Lebreton Flats. &nbsp;Albert Street in that area was way more dynamic than what we have been used for the last 50 years. &nbsp;Several shops and cafes like the Eddy's Coffee Shop were in activity on Albert Street back in 1962 has shown by the archival photo.Think about what Albert Street may have looked like nowadays if the neighbourhood would have evolved like any other old and established neighbourhoods. &nbsp;It would have probably be similar to Elgin Street in Centretown or Beechwood in Vanier.Ad firms did not have the maturity and refinement that we are used to these days and Pepsi-Cola was trying to get new customers by saying "Now it's pepsi for those who think young." &nbsp;Nothing less.In 2014, Albert Street was reduced to 1 lane in each direction in order to replace the sewer and widen the street and sidewalks.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-intersection-of-wellington-albert-streets-at-lebreton-flats/487/
Mechanicsville & Tunney's PastureThis aerial view of the former West-end of the city of
Ottawa shows how Mechaniscville was isolated when pastures, the river and
railways were its physical limits.
Numerous elements have changed in the 80 years that separate
both photos.&nbsp; Downtown Ottawa and
downtown Hull are now a forest of office tours.&nbsp;
The industrial activity has vacated Lebreton Flats and the logs have
vanished from the Ottawa River in Nepean Bay.
The city growth is also visible towards the East where
Blackburn Hamlet, Gloucester and Rothwell Village took over forests and fields.
That being said, the most obvious change is the transformation
of Tunney’s Pasture.&nbsp; This large empty
area on the fringe of the city was the perfect spot for the implementation of
Gréber Plan that was strongly influenced by the modernism movement and favored
decentralization of employment centers. Its concrete towers that only the former
East-Block would envy, its wide avenues and its open parking lots are one of
the reasons why the Tunney’s Pasture development has been a tremendous failure
when it comes to urban planning.&nbsp; Even
the federal government that is still implementing urban planning policies straight
out of the 1960s, thought that Tunney’s Pasture was ripe for a renewal and
intensification.&nbsp; They want to double the
number of workers from 10&nbsp;000 to 20&nbsp;000 and build up to 1000 dwelling
units by 2035.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/mechanicsville-tunney-s-pasture/486/
Roxborough Apartments on Elgin and LaurierThe archival photo was taken before the North end of Elgin Street got widened. &nbsp;It shows that back in the day, Elgin Street used to be that traditional main street with its numerous shops.Pay attention to the street car rails on the picture when Elgin Street was services by street cars.The 8 story building at the back was the Roxborough Apartments which was demolished to make room for the Confederation Park.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartments-on-elgin-and-laurier/485/
Dey's Arena on Laurier AvenueThe landscape around Laurier Avenue in downtown Ottawa considerably changed since 100 years.The north side (right side) of Laurier Avenue (formely Maria Street) was demolished to make room for the Confederation Park.The only element still standing today is the First Baptist Church on the corner of Elgin Street.The building at the front on the archival photo is the Dey's Arena where the Ottawa Senetors played from 1908 to 1923. &nbsp;They won their first Stanley Cup in 1911.The arena was in operation from 1884 to 1928.The imposing building at the corner of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue behind the arena were the Roxborough apartments.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/dey-s-arena-on-laurier-avenue/484/
Elgin Street Public SchoolThe Elgin Street Public School at the corner of Gilmour Street in Ottawa has considerably changed.On top of the main door, a sign said: 1840 Public School.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-public-school/482/
Parliament Viewed from Elgin StreetThe last block of the northern section of Elgin Street between Sparks Street and Wellington Street is almost unrecognizable. &nbsp; The only still standing building is the East Block since the Centre Block was at its first iteration before it was destroyed by the 1916 fire. &nbsp;The Langevin Block at the South-West corner of Elgin Street and Wellington took over the modest buildings where The Free Press offices were.On the right-hand side, where the War Memorial is right now, a wider Elgin Street took over a series of smaller buildings housing shops and apartments, like the Clisby House. &nbsp;Back then, Sparks Street had one more block (not shown here) and was connected to the Union Station.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/parliament-viewed-from-elgin-street/481/
Snowed up Elgin StreetThis photo shows how snow removal was done in the streets of Ottawa around 1945.The landscape around Elgin Street was then quite different and the only still standing building in both photo is the Lord Elgin Hotel (1941). &nbsp;The Laurentian Club, the Grand Union Hotel and the Aylmer Apartments (on the left-hand side) are long gone.Clearly, the black hat was fashionable for men back in the 40s.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/snowed-up-elgin-street/480/
Saint Luke General Hospital on Elgin StreetSt. Luke's General Hospital was inaugurated in 1898 and was located at the corner of Elgin Street and Gladstone Avenue. &nbsp;The hospital was mainly founded by Henry Pulteney Wright with a $10 000 donation. &nbsp;Other local businessmen such as John Booth and H. N. Bate, also contributed financially.The city of Ottawa decided to close the hospital in 1924 after the opening of Ottawa Civic Hospital. &nbsp;The building was demolished after the Great Depression and a park, St. Luke's Parlk was built. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/saint-luke-general-hospital-on-elgin-street/479/
Laurentian Club at the Corner of Elgin and Albert StreetsSocial class segregation was common in Ottawa at the turn of the previous century. &nbsp;Entrance to gentlemen's club was only granted to those belonging to a certain class or profession. &nbsp;Sick of that questionable behavior and frustrated that business partners and clients were excluded from those elitist clubs, three businessmen founded the Laurentian Club in 1904. &nbsp;Around 1929, the club had more than 300 members and 65 privileged members.The Laurentian Club was renting space in the building you could see at the corner of Elgin Street and Albert Street on the archival photo. &nbsp;Unfortunately, the federal government expropriated (war measures?) the building and it was demolished a few years later to build the Lorne Building. &nbsp;The Lorne Building is now gone and the 2015 shows a brand new building at 90 Elgin Street which is hosting the offices of the Ministry of Finance. &nbsp;They named the building the Jim Flaherty building after the former Minister of finances under the Harper's government.The building on the archival photo was design by Arthur Le B. Weeks Architects.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/laurentian-club-at-the-corner-of-elgin-and-albert-streets/478/
Brewery Creek in HullGatineau mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin seems convinced that he will succeed in bringing life into the long-time ignored and decaying area around the Brewery Creek in Hull.The area is quite different when you compared both pictures which are separated by about 60 years. &nbsp;Almost all the buildings on the East-side of Montcalm Street have been demolished. &nbsp;The emptiness along Montcalm Street creates a sense of uneasiness for those walking on Montcalm Street from Alexandre-Taché Boulevard.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/brewery-creek-in-hull/477/
North-East Corner of Elgin Street and Laurier AvenueThe North-East corner of the intersection of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue in Ottawa was quite different back in 1928 compared to the busy intersection we are used to nowadays.&nbsp;In the shadow of the Roxborough Apartments and the Woods Buildings, humble houses hosted a "druggist" and a corner store when Elgin Street was still a modest street.At that time, Mackenzie-King had his eyes on the north section of Elgin Street to build the War Memorial. &nbsp;The successive fires which destroyed City Hall and the Russell House made the area suitable for a massive reconfiguration. &nbsp;This is exactly what happened.Jacques Gréber got his first mandate in Ottawa and recommended to widen Elgin Street north of Laurier Avenue. &nbsp;The fate was then sealed for those buildings which unfortunately did not fit with the new vision of grandeur for this area.Around 30 years later, the luxurious Roxborough Apartments and the beautiful Woods Buildings were torn down to make room for the Confederation Park (which is only busy,&nbsp;sadly, about three times a year). &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-east-corner-of-elgin-street-and-laurier-avenue/476/
Lowertown East Before Urban RenewalThis aerial photo of Lowertown East demonstrates how much it has changed after the 1970&nbsp;textbook&nbsp;urban renewal.St. Patrick Street which used to be a traditional main street with its stores and residences has been completely demolished and stripped from its built elements which consequently had it lost its main purpose. &nbsp;It transformed St. Patrick Street into a main transitional road on which cars can zip through Lowertown East as fast as they can. &nbsp;This was a recommandation of the Gréber Plan where St. Patrick needed to be reconfigured in order to by-pass Rideau Street which was a problem in Gréber's eye because it was too busy. &nbsp;One can also notice how a rectangular street grid has been replaced by curvy roads and dead-ends like they built in the suburbs these days.This extreme transformation hurt the neighbourhood badly. &nbsp;Even gentrification ignored this part of town (except the "English Lowertown", on the right in the photo), despite being more central than other neighbourhoods like Vanier which had experienced faster gentrification in the last few years.&nbsp;The sad part is that this aerial view of Lowertown only shows about half of the damages that were inflicted to the area with this dubious urban renewal.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lowertown-east-before-urban-renewal/475/
Aerial View of the Rideau CanalThis aerial view of the downtown Ottawa shows how the land around the Rideau Canal has changed over the years. &nbsp;The year at which the picture was taken can be estimated to 1927 from the existing buildings and landmarks; The Russell House burned down in 1928 and the Peace Tower was inaugurated in 1927.The most obvious missing part is the basin (lay-by) of the Rideau Canal at the end of Slater Street. &nbsp;The basin was extending on both sides of the Rideau Canal, but the archival photo only shows the West portion since the East portion was filled in the 1870s to make more room for railroads. &nbsp;The West portion of the basin was removed in 1927 for development purposes.South of the basin, the Laurier Avenue arena, where the Senators won several Stanley Cup, can be seen. &nbsp;The North-end of Elgin Street was more urbanized since we could find several buildings, now long gone, like the first City Hall and the Russell House. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, Elgin Street which used to be a more modest street has been widened (all the buildings East of it have been demolished) and transformed into an 8-lane urban boulevard which had a deep impact on the dynamic of the whole Ottawa's core.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aerial-view-of-the-rideau-canal/474/
Lowertown EastIn hindsight, the mistakes from past decisions become dead obvious. With the Ottawa Past &amp; Present project, through several hundred comparisons, we try to demonstrate that past decisions do not guarantee future success. On that front, Lowertown East is particularly striking and anyone wandering or living in this area of the city of Ottawa located between the Rideau River and King Edward Avenue would concur.
Back in the middle of the 1960s, the city of Ottawa, government of Ontario and the National Capital Commission (NCC) teamed up and imposed tremendous changes on the residents of Sainte-Anne Parish on the basis of embellishing the Capital of Canada. Despite a poverty level higher than other neighbourhoods in Ottawa, the French majority area was a strong community. Numerous tattered houses was evidence enough, for anyone who cared about the image of the city, that something needed to be done to up-scale the area. Without a doubt, the intentions of the tree levels of government involved in this were well-intentioned. Decades later, we can confirm, however, that they failed miserably and Lowertown East never recovered from this urban renewal with its 1970s aftertaste.
The root causes of this failure are numerous: social housing was ghettoized when it could have been integrated into the existing urban fabric; the street grid has been replaced by a suburban street layout with its curved roads (notably Beausoleil Drive, not shown here) and dead-ends. Finally, Saint Patrick Street, formerly a typical commercial street, was widened and curved to increase traffic, and consequently reduced the value of the surroundings. Instead of tackling the problem with smaller scale solutions and favoring a more organic approach, the government expropriated residences on a large scale and forced a complete reconfiguration of the area. This is how we were doing urban renewal back in the day. After all, the Gréber Plan had made its way through the bureaucrats at the NCC. The conversion of Saint Patrick Street into a major East-West thoroughfare fit marvelously with the plan to promote cars and decentralization. Nowadays, these ideas are kept in check, but it is too late for Lowertown East.
This area photo is great, but only shows one half of Lowertown East and hides the area close to King Edward. Located south of the new Saint Patrick Street, the “English” area of Lowertown East was saved from this brutal urban renewal and [subsequently] preserved the urban fabric of the past. This area is also the one which offers the highest property assessment for Lowertown East. Now that the redevelopment of Lebreton Flats is hitting high on the priority list at the NCC, we sincerely hope that the NCC has learned from it past mistakes. We truly have our doubts.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lowertown-east/473/
Bank Street between Gladstone Avenue and James StreetThis comparison of Bank Street in Ottawa is interesting on many fronts. &nbsp;First, from a photographic point of view, it is one of the rare archival photos (actually, it is the first one we have ever done) that was shot with a long focal length; 200 mm in this case.Two churches, the Metropolitan Bible Church and the United Centretown Church occupy the vast majority of the left-hand side of the archival photo. &nbsp;The United Church is still up but the Central occupies the site of the former Metropolitan Bible Church which has integrated&nbsp;(half of) the facade&nbsp;in a pretty nice fashion with the new glass and red brick building. &nbsp;The three phases of the Central, to which will be added a forth phase, definitely gave a second breath to the area of Centretown south of Gladstone Avenue by adding a couple of hundreds of units and several services like a pharmacy and an LCBO. &nbsp;Rumor has it that a Farm Boy will open where Tommy Lefrebvre is currently which would be an important addition to this area.As for the area north of Gladstone, it stayed almost unchanged. That being said, the 3-story building at the corner of Florence and Bank Streets has been destroyed by a fire in 2005. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-street-between-gladstone-avenue-and-james-street/472/
Corner of Bank & GladstoneBank Street has a long legacy of being the commercial street as this archival photo shows with the numerous shops at the corner of Gladstone Avenue. &nbsp;Two elements caught our attention on the archival photo: &nbsp;the first one being the man in the forefront, potentially a postman from his uniform and hat, who seems to collect mail by horse.The second element is the streetcar which was present at the corner of Bank and Gladstone when the photo was taken. &nbsp;The long gone streetcar was running down Bank Street and was turning West on Gladstone Avenue as the rail are suggesting.The buildings stayed more or less the same with the exception of the opening created when the Rialto Theatre was demolished at the corner of Bank and Frank Streets. It is also too bad that the artisanal windows on top of Fauna restaurant were not preserved.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corner-of-bank-gladstone/471/
Aerial View of Lebreton FlatsThis aerial comparison of Lebreton Flats and a simulation from Google Earth shows two Lebreton Flats radically different. The archival photo clearly shows the industrial past of the Flats with its numerous light industries and rails in its western section (top of the image). Now that the LRT station has been renamed Pimisi and that Lebreton Flats seems to be the predilection spot for the different levels of government to build memorials of this and that, which brings nothing to the Public Space, we are convinced that they want remove the industrial legacy of the flats from the collective memory.
Despite not having the exact date of the archival photo, we can see that the eastern portion of the Lebreton Flats where the Bradings Breweries were located has already been demolished. The photo was then taken after 1957 but before 1962, year at which the NCC expropriated and completely demolished the neighbourhood and let it rot for more than 50 years.
Note how the route of the Wellington Street was changed. It used to only go through the south section of Lebreton Flats but it has been definitely widened and curved as it is now passing right through the neighbourhood. This configuration is similar to what was done to Saint Patrick Street in Lowertown East which transformed it for the worse.
The NCC said this week that they have an ethical debt (nice euphemism!) toward the Ottawa population to not have done anything for so long.
Proof us wrong, but the lot size for the redevelopment seems to be already done. The city and the NCC would benefit to review its design to allow small developers to be part of the process otherwise it will most likely lead to development that we have seen too many times in the past where one big developer is responsible to build this "perfectly planned community" or "iconic buildings" which in most cases turn out to be grotesque or badly planned.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aerial-view-of-lebreton-flats/470/
Bank & Gladstone IntersectionAround 1940, the Gladstone Avenue and Bank Street intersection offered a great variety of shops and restaurants. &nbsp;Two lines of streetcars were present which one of them continued its route on Gladstone Avenue.Since several decades, the north side of this intersection is not getting anywhere or has even regressed with the lost of the Rialto Theatre which is now a parking lot.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-gladstone-intersection/469/
Former Rialto on Bank StreetThe Rialto on Bank Street at Frank Street opened in 1914 and was known as the "Little Clarey". &nbsp; Right after the WWI, Tom Clarey sold the theatre and it became "The Fern" until it shot down in 1930.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-rialto-on-bank-street/468/
Frank and Bank StreetAll the buildings in the archival photo are still up. &nbsp;The cobbler in the building located on the South-East corner of Bank Street and Frank Street a été remplacé par le restaurant Fauna. &nbsp;The ground floor of the 424 Bank Street is occupied by Farrah's Hair Studio are Bead Dreams.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/frank-and-bank-street/466/
Aerial View of Elgin Street with ParliamentThis aerial view reveals that the northern section of Elgin Street has drastically changed over the years. &nbsp;Essentially, all the buildings located on the East side of Elgin Street have been demolished to make room for the NAC and the War Memorial. &nbsp;We believe that the dynamic of downtown Ottawa would have been fundamentally different if Elgin Street would have not been widened and&nbsp;reconfigured the way it is today.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aerial-view-of-elgin-street-with-parliament/465/
Langevin Block with Rideau ClubThis archival photo shows the Langevin Block, the first federal building to be built outside the hill. &nbsp;The building on the West side of the Langevin Block is the former Rideau Club which was demolished in 1979 after it had been damaged by a fire.&nbsp; Forty years later, Public Works Canada and the NCC could think of anything better to occupy this prime location right in front of Parliament and add more to the already prestigious Wellington Street.More subtlety, we can see buildings East (on the left hand side on the photo) of the Langevin Block where there is now the War Memorial.&nbsp; Slowly but surely, they let the urban fabric of that block (between Elgin and Sparks) erode and completely demolished it when the Russell House was destroyed by a fire.&nbsp; The continuum of buildings between the Langevin Block and the Union Station is no longer and allowed Wellington Street to be widened to 6 lanes.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/langevin-block-with-rideau-club/464/
Rideau Street @ Mackenzie AvenueA lot to say about this comparison, even though we said it all in the past. &nbsp;First of all, the building which only the facade shows in the archive picture is the Daly building which was abandoned in the late 1970s after decades of laisser-aller from its owner, the NCC. &nbsp;It was demolished in 1991. It is obvious how the condos that were built at the exact same location do not fill the area as much because of the too important setback from Rideau Street.&nbsp;Also, all of the three-story buildings on the other side of the street have been demolished to make room for this new stretch of road which now links Mackenzie Avenue and Colonel By Drive. &nbsp;It is now impossible for pedestrians to walk on the south side of Rideau Street in that area and they must take the underground tunnel under the prolonged Mackenzie Avenue.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-mackenzie-avenue/463/
Lebreton FlatsYou know the story.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lebreton-flats/462/
Rideau Canal and Sacred Heart ChurchPeople in charge of the planning in that area thought it would be better to replace the rails by the bunker type building of the Department of Defense.The steeple in the far scene is the Sacred Heart Church which unfortunately burned down.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-and-sacred-heart-church/461/
The back of the Former Post OfficeThe Post Office was the last obstacle to the ambitions of the Prime Minister Mackenzie-King to erect a War Memorial in order to honnor the people who serviced for World War I.He hired our good friend Jacques Gréber to "prove himself" and find the perfect spot for such a memorial. &nbsp;Gréber had in mind Major Hill Park as the site to put the memorial, but it seems like Mackenzie-King's mind had been set since the begining: Connaught Place was the perfect spot.The "hole" in the core left by the successive fires of the Russell House and the City Hall was about the get bigger and enhanced the physical limitation between Centretown and Lowertown, formely linked by a continuum of buildings.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/the-back-of-the-former-post-office/460/
Grand Hotel & Former Post OfficeThe buildings in the front of the archive photo were the Grand Hotel and the former post office. &nbsp;They were both sacrified to make room for the Rideau Centre.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/grand-hotel-former-post-office/459/
Slater Street and Rideau CanalBack in the day, before Gréber, Slater Street was reaching the Rideau Canal.The apartment buildings, now demolished, were the Bates, Aylmer and Woods Apartments.The direct link between the Queen-Elizabeth Drive and Elgin Street has been removed when the NAC took over.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/slater-street-and-rideau-canal/458/
Former Union Station with Corry BlockAlmost nothing has changed on the building of the former Union Station, besides the "Union Station" words at the top of the main entrance.The building on the left was the Corry Block and it has been demolished to make room for this urban onramp linking Mackenzie Avenue and Colonel By Drive.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-union-station-with-corry-block/457/
Former Union Station with Colonel By DriveWhen the archival photo was taken, bad things had already happened: the Central Train Station has been moved to the suburbs and the Corry Block had been demolished to provide road link between Mackenzie Avenue and the new Colonel By Drive (formerly Little Sussex). &nbsp;Since those major configuration changes , pedestrians can only reach the busiest intersection in Ottawa, Sussex Drive and Rideau Street, by this cold and unfriendly underpass. &nbsp;This is a clear example of priority given to motorists over pedestrians when massive urban redesign are undertaken since the 1960s. &nbsp;In 2008, the NCC started a project to redesign this important intersection of Ottawa. &nbsp;However, just like some many other projects undertaken by the NCC, it seems like it has been shut down since and is unlikely to be resuscitated.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-union-station-with-colonel-by-drive/456/
Somerset West & Queen Elizabeth DriveAlmost nothing has changed at this intersection, beside a few bushes and the two brutalism-ish towers.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/somerset-west-queen-elizabeth-drive/455/
Courtyard - Clarendon Lane - Part IIA different view of Clarendon Lane in Ottawa.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/courtyard-clarendon-lane-part-ii/454/
Courtyard - Clarendon LaneThe bottom of the barrel was probably hit when the archival photo was taken in the mid-70's.The NCC took over the revitalization of this courtyard which became one of the top public spaces in Ottawa nowadays.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/courtyard-clarendon-lane/453/
Transportation BuildingLocated on one of the busiest intersection in Ottawa, the Transportation building almost remained unchanged; only its ground floor was modified and became one of the main entrance to the Rideau Centre.Despite the&nbsp;Rideau-Sussex intersection being the busiest intersection in Ottawa, you can see that the sidewalk size was reduced, especially closer to the intersection (right-hand side) probably to make room for the road median.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/transportation-building/452/
Rideau Canal with a LocomotiveToday, everybody agrees that moving the train station in the suburbs was a mistake. &nbsp;That being said, its move has opened the shores of the Rideau Canal by removing the lanes of rails no longer required. &nbsp;By applying the sacro-saint parkways model, the NCC changed the vocation of the Rideau Canal shores and built a long linear park as well as the Colonel By Drive. &nbsp;All of the new empty space also allowed the Department of Defense to move in the neighbourhood by building its headquarter along the lines of brutalist architecture. &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-with-a-locomotive/451/
Sussex Drive and George StreetThe archival photo was probably taken in the mid-1970s when the disinterest for urban core in North American reached its apogee. &nbsp;The NCC&nbsp;succesfully&nbsp;&nbsp;retored this building (and many more along Sussex Drive). &nbsp;It hosts the Modern Shop and the Black Tomato restaurant.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-and-george-street/450/
Laurier Avenue, formerly known as Maria Street
This comparison is a good example of regression in Ottawa’s urban planning – where a fairly tight urban fabric has been replaced by a more sterile environment. Maria Street, renamed Laurier Avenue, was widened from 3 to 5 lanes and parking on its sides was made illegal, probably to increase traffic flow. Other elements which disappeared are the streetcar rails, as streetcars were the main transportation means for Ottawans around 1900.
Roxborough Apartments, which were located at the corner of Maria Street and Elgin Street, were demolished to make room for Confederation Park, which unfortunately fails to be a great public space. With its North side (Mackenzie-King Bridge) and its East side (Rideau Canal) failing to connect the park to the rest of the city and its relative distance from residential buildings could explain the why the park fails to bring together city dwellers outside rare episodes where the park hosts special events in which case the park becomes a destination on its own.
For more about great public spaces, watch the Amanda Burden TED talk.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/laurier-avenue-formerly-known-as-maria-street/449/
Orme Hall on Wellington StreetOrme Hall was located on Wellington Street in Ottawa. One of its owner was the piano maker James Lawrence Orme who also had a shop on Sparks Street.The Orme Hall was demolished in the late 1950 to make room for the expansion of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/orme-hall-on-wellington-street/448/
Orme Hall on Wellington StreetOrme Hall on Wellington Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/orme-hall-on-wellington-street/447/
Albert IslandWindmill Development have a ambitious project for the Chaudière Island site.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-island/446/
Former Convent on Rideau StreetThe archival photo was probably taken a few months before the convent on Rideau Street was demolished since a developer, Glenview Development, is advertizing office and commercial space for rent available "now".Claridge built phases 1 and 2 of their Claridge Plaza on the block made of Rideau Street, Waller Street and Cumberland Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-convent-on-rideau-street/445/
Former Woods and Bates ApartmentsBates Apartements, on the right-hand side on the photo, were sacrificed in order to connect both sides of the Rideau Canal. &nbsp;To increase car traffic in to core, Slater and Albert Streets were turned into one-way streets and united in triangular fashion to form the Mackenzie-King bridge.Jacques Gréber who was a proponent of low-density and decentralized federal employment centre did not cared about the Bates and Woods Apartments since they somewhat represented the opposite of what he envisioned for the city of Ottawa. &nbsp;&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-woods-and-bates-apartments/444/
Normal School on Elgin StreetThe Normal School now hosts the Ottawa Mayor offices.Special thanks to Mr. Rick MacEwen for the both photos.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/normal-school-on-elgin-street/443/
Waller Street @ Rideau StreetThe convent on Rideau Street could be seen on the left-hand side on the archival photo. &nbsp;The first phase of the Claridge Plaza occupies now that street corner. &nbsp;Back in the days, Waller Street was narrower and experienced less heavy traffic compared to nowadays since it has become the main corridor for trucks through the downtown core. &nbsp;This causes security issues for pedestrians and cyclists.&nbsp;&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/waller-street-rideau-street/442/
96 to 102 Wellington StreetThose two buildings, right in front of Parliament, was part of the Banker's Row. &nbsp;The arrival of the American Embassy deeply changed this once prestigious block. &nbsp;The ambassy has been relocated since more than 10 years and yet, those prime parcels are still sitting empty.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/96-to-102-wellington-street/441/
Rideau Street @ Waller Street with the ConventThis postcard shows the Rideau Street and Waller Street intersection when the convent was still up. We can also see the rails of the streetcar that were once on Rideau Street.One thing is sure, intensification was promoted in that area of downtown.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-waller-street-with-the-convent/440/
Wellington Street at the Corner of O'ConnorThe block formed by Metcalfe Street, Wellington Street and O'Connor Street was known as the Bankers' Row because of the several banks present on that block, right in front of the Parliament. &nbsp;The corner of Wellington Street and O'Connor, on the current photo, was the west end of that prestigious stretch of Wellington Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-at-the-corner-of-o-connor/439/
Dalhousie Street at Rideau StreetThe Monument National was erected at the north-west corner of Dalhousie Street and George Street where the Marriott is nowadays.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/dalhousie-street-at-rideau-street/438/
Rideau Canal before the Construction of Union StationThe shores of the Rideau Canal certainly gained in maturity with the addition of the building of the former Union Station and the construction of the Château Laurier. &nbsp;However, the demolition of the Corry Block, the first "skyscraper" of Ottawa so that the Colonel By Drive could be connected to Rideau Street and the re-localisation of the central station in the suburbs leave us perplex. &nbsp;&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-before-the-construction-of-union-station/437/
Convent on Rideau StreetThe convent was demolished in 1972. &nbsp;The chapel has been saved and restored the National Gallery of Canada.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/convent-on-rideau-street/436/
Metcalfe Street with the Former Public Library and the YMCAThe public library is still where it used to be, but its envelop drastically changed from what it used to be.The former YMCA, on the left-hand side, has been converted into an hotel.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-with-the-former-public-library-and-the-ymca/435/
Elgin Street with Former City Hall and Grand Union HotelElgin Street got somewhat less friendly over the years.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-with-former-city-hall-and-grand-union-hotel/434/
Bankers' Row on Wellington Street in Ottawahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bankers-row-on-wellington-street-in-ottawa/433/
Sappers' Bridge on Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sappers-bridge-on-wellington-street/432/
Former City Hall on Elgin StreetThe building was located on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets.The second Ottawa City Hall was destroyed by a fire in 1931http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-city-hall-on-elgin-street/431/
Wellington Street with the Former Rideau Club and American Embassy Wellington Street would have been much more engaging if they would have not decided to widen it and consequently remove the trees of both sides of the street. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-with-the-former-rideau-club-and-american-embassy-/430/
Roxborough Apartment on Laurier - IIThe Roxborough Apartments were "the" place to live in Ottawa in 1910. &nbsp;Its 82 units were renting between 35 and 40$ a month, complete maid service included.Mackenzie King, Lous St.Laurent and General Georges Vanier all lived at the Roxborough at one time or another.&nbsp;The NCC expropriated the building since they wanted to build the National Museum of Science which was never built, just like some many other projects managed by the NCC. &nbsp;The forward-thinking board of the NCC agreed that a park was the best usage for the empty space created when the Roxborough Apartments, as well as many other buildings in that area, were demolished.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartment-on-laurier-ii/429/
Elgin Steet & City HallAll the buildings on the photo disapeared:City HallKnox ChurchGrand Union Hotelhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-steet-city-hall/428/
Ross Building on the corner of Sparks & Metcalfe - IIThe Ross Building was construted around 1892 after that Crawford Ross bought the pre-existing &nbsp;building at the same location. &nbsp;The initial vocation of the Ross Building was a department store, but in 1912, the whole building was turned into an office building.The Ross Building kept its vocation for fifty years until it was demolished and replaced by the building now standing at the south-west corner of Metcalfe Street and Sparks Street. &nbsp;Note that in the 1990s, the NCC bought the building with the obvious goal of tearing it down as the organisation was hit by an episode of madness and elaborated its controversial plan to widen Metcalfe Street to the west in order to turn it into and "Grand Boulevard". &nbsp;Fortunately, the project was canned.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ross-building-on-the-corner-of-sparks-metcalfe-ii/427/
Sparks Street Close to Elgin StreetThe departed on that photo:The Russell HouseThe block just north of the Russell HouseStreetcarsPeople.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-close-to-elgin-street/426/
Ross Building on the corner of Sparks & Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ross-building-on-the-corner-of-sparks-metcalfe/425/
Sparks Street Between O'Connor & BankSparks Street is clearly not where it was 100 years ago when several dozens of shops were opened. &nbsp;Some of the buildings were saved, but the heritage lost, which eroded the specificity and the standing of Sparks Streets, are obvious in this comparison.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-between-o-connor-bank/423/
O'Connor Street @ Sparks Street Looking Southhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/o-connor-street-sparks-street-looking-south/422/
Cooper Street @ MetcalfeThe south side of Copper Street stayed essentially the same. &nbsp;The Duncannon, on the left hand side in the photo, was saved from demolition, unlike the Woods Apartments and the Roxborough Apartments, when the NCC gave up on its ridiculous project to widen Metcalfe Street and turn it into a "Grand Boulevard". &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/cooper-street-metcalfe/421/
Nepean Street @ Metcalfe Street Looking EastNice houses have been replaced by office tours and apartment buildings. The building on the right hand side is the Tribeca from Claridge.Whether you like or not the design or the height of the Tribeca tours, Claridge tried to integrate their building with the street and rumor has it that a Sobey's grocery store will rent the ground level of the Tribeca phase 1, which is a fantastic news for Centretown.With the Tribeca phase 1 and 2, Claridge step it up a bit from what they built in the past in terms of street level interaction with the Claridge Plaza 1 and 2 on Rideau Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/nepean-street-metcalfe-street-looking-east/420/
Former YMCA, now the Indigo Hotel on Metcalfe Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-ymca-now-the-indigo-hotel-on-metcalfe-street/419/
Former House of Jackson Booth on Metcalfe Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-house-of-jackson-booth-on-metcalfe-street/418/
First Church of Christ on Metcalfe Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/first-church-of-christ-on-metcalfe-street/417/
Elgin Street @ Nepean StreetBefore the Ontario Courthouse was built at the corner of Elgin Street and Nepean Street, buildings from the WWII were temporarily erected at the same location.Despite not having the exact date when the archival photo was shot, it had to be before 1965 since the Canadian flag with the Union Jack was floating on the roof of the military buildings.We can see the Roxborough Apartments on the left-hand side of the picture.&nbsp; They were located on the North-East corner of the intersection Laurier-Elgin.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-nepean-street/416/
Gloucester Street in Ottawa near Metcalfe Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/gloucester-street-in-ottawa-near-metcalfe-street/415/
Metcalfe Street @ Lewis Looking NorthA few buildings were added to this section of Metcalfe Street but it still kept the ambiance that was present 70 years ago. &nbsp;The massive building on the left-hand side is the Mayfair apartment building located at 260 Metcalfe Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-lewis-looking-north/414/
St. Paul & St. Peter Church on Metcalfe StreetFormer St. George's Church located at the corner of Metcalfe Street and Gloucester Street became St. Peter &amp; St. Paul's Church.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-paul-st-peter-church-on-metcalfe-street/413/
Former 12 Metcalfe Street12 Metcalfe Street used to host the Merchant Bank of Canada. &nbsp;It was destroyed by a fire in 1979 which also took down the Rideau Club on the right-hand side of the archival photo.For the last 30 years, the NCC kept the lot empty and is trying to figure out what to do with it. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-12-metcalfe-street/412/
Metcalfe Street & Museum of Naturehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-museum-of-nature/411/
Knox Presbyterian Church on Elgin StreetKnox Presbyterian Church, designed by Henry Langley Architect in 1874 stood at the corner of Elgin Street and Albert Street for about 50 years when the authorities decided to widen Elgin Street between Laurier Street and Wellington Street. The King and Queen of England inaugurated the “new” Elgin when they visited Ottawa in 1939. The expansion of Elgin Street towards the East decimated several historical buildings.
The Ontario Municipality Board (OMB) did not allow the city to use bonds to finance this expansion. For this reason, the City used money it got from the insurance companies from the fire that ruined the first Ottawa City Hall a few years earlier.
A more modest version of the Knox Church was built a few blocks south of the original location at the corner of Elgin Street and Lisgar Street.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/knox-presbyterian-church-on-elgin-street/410/
Urban Sprawl @ Ogilvie & BlairThis aerial photo of the former city of Gloucester shows how urban sprawl puts pressure on farm land. &nbsp;In a little more than 50 years, the agricultural land which used to dominate the area around Blair Road and Ogilvie Road has been removed by suburban development with its highways, curvy roads and strip malls.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/urban-sprawl-ogilvie-blair/409/
Marie Street & Roxborough ApartmentsThis photo of Laurier Street, formerly Maria Street, shows on of the most luxurious apartment building never been built in Ottawa; the Roxborough Apartments. Maria Street had its worldly moments in the past as a series of trees separated both of its lanes.
The area around the Roxborough Apartments was severely modified and none of the existing buildings on the photo survived. An aerial view of the surrounding in the mid-1960s shows a dark moment in the urban development of Ottawa as the core of the city, where the main post office, the Russell House and the first City Hall, could be mistaken with a city that had just been bombed. The Roxbourough Apartments, who had notorious tenants like 2 former Prime Ministers, stayed up until the very last minute.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/marie-street-roxborough-apartments/408/
Slater Street & Elgin StreetThe two towers that are shown on the postcard are the Wood Apartments which were located on Slater Street (unlike what is written on the postcard).In 1938, Elgin Street was widen which sacrificed the first row of buildings East of Elgin Street. &nbsp;About twenty years later, the implementation of the transportation recommendations of the Gréber Plan which transformed Slater and Albert Streets into one way traffic thoroughfare for car to zip through downtown as fast as possible, the Woods Apartments were demolished to make room for the Confederation Park.Gréber who was a fan of the modernist architecture believed that to increase the social acceptability of dubious projects like these, the offer in green space should be increased. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/slater-street-elgin-street/407/
Albert Street East of Elgin StreetThis section of Albert Street, East of Elgin Street, completely vanished when Albert Street and Slater Street were turned into one-way traffic thoroughfare. &nbsp; The NAC, from which we see one of its walls on the photo, sits now on that area of Centretown.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-east-of-elgin-street/406/
Boushey'sBoushey's grocery store went through aesthetic and functional changes.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/boushey-s/405/
St. Patrick Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-patrick-street/403/
Saint Patrick Street near King-Edward Avenuehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/saint-patrick-street-near-king-edward-avenue/402/
466 St. Patrick Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/466-st-patrick-street/401/
Nelson & St. Patrick Streets http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/nelson-st-patrick-streets-/400/
King-Edward & St. Andrew Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/king-edward-st-andrew-street/398/
Cobourg & St-Patrick Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/cobourg-st-patrick-intersection/397/
463 St-PatrickThis multi-unit building was demolished to make room for the École Secondaire de La Salle.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/463-st-patrick/396/
644 St. Patrick StreetThe east-end of Saint Patrick Street was dismantled when the authorities decided that this area was ready for urban renewal in the 1960s.The archival photo was taken in the 1950's when streetcars were still running on St. Patrick Street as the tracks in the road reveal.At the time photo was taken, The people who used to live at 642 St. Patrick seem to be moving using a horse and a carriage which proves that access to a motorized vehicle in the 1950's was not universal.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/644-st-patrick-street/395/
St. Anne Church in Lowertownhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-anne-church-in-lowertown/392/
Streetcar on Sparks Street in 1959Sparks Street at a time when streetcars (we can see 4 on that picture) were running east-west on it.Once again, several buildings with shops having direct street access have been demolished to make room for a single building with a single access.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/streetcar-on-sparks-street-in-1959/391/
Streetcar on Elgin towards QueenHere is the same comparison in "ghost" mode.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/streetcar-on-elgin-towards-queen/390/
Streetcar at Elgin & WellingtonWhen the Ottawa's streetcar were still present on the Ottawa's streets.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/streetcar-at-elgin-wellington/389/
Streetcars, Rails & LocksThis photo shows the rails that were going underneath Sappers and Dufferin Bridges before reaching Union Station. &nbsp;The rails are long gone and it really looks like they have left it "as is" (abandoned) since then.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/streetcars-rails-locks/388/
Windsor Hotel - Part IIThe Windsor Hotel was located at the corner of Metcalfe and Queen.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/windsor-hotel-part-ii/387/
Metcalfe Street Looking North near LaurierThe streetscape at Metcalfe and Laurier has changed substantially: the only remaining building is the former YMCA, now the Indigo Hotel. &nbsp;The South-West corner of the Laurier and Metcalfe intersection was occupied by an apartment building which are cruelly missing in the north-end of Centretown: &nbsp;as long as the core will not have dwelling units in sufficient number, downtown will remain&nbsp;moribund.The former Public Library has been replaced by the concrete version that we all know.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-looking-north-near-laurier/386/
Bank of Commerce on Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-of-commerce-on-sparks-street/385/
Metcalfe Street at Queen StreetMost of the buildings on the archival photo have been torn down. &nbsp;The Windsor Hotel was located on the North-East corner of Metcalfe and Queen. On the extreme left of the photo we can see the Methodist Church who burned down in the 60's. &nbsp;The light building behind the remaining building was the Rideau Club which burned down at the end of the 1970s. &nbsp;The photo was also taken at the time the second version of the parliament was not up yet since the library is visible.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-at-queen-street/384/
Sparks Street Between Bank and O'ConnorOnce again, this archive photos from the 60s shows a much more animated and thriving Sparks street as it was the main shopping area in the downtown area before the Rideau Centre was built. &nbsp;No exact date was provided with the picture but it shows a fair guess would be that the picture was taken a few years after Sparks Street became exclusive to pedestrians. &nbsp;The Zeller's at the corner of Sparks and O'Connor took over the Poulin's store. &nbsp;It is now closed and will become a high-end brewery. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-between-bank-and-o-connor/383/
South Side of the Former Public LibraryThis photo offers an unusual view of the public library of Ottawa as the photographer was standing on Laurier Avenue and pointing his camera north towards the Parliament. &nbsp; The back of the building is quite interesting with its several skinny windows that one could compare to the "meurtrière" of the medieval fortresses. &nbsp;The public library was demolished to make room to the V 2.0 of the public library. &nbsp;Unfortunately, the newer version does not provide the same visual appeals that the initial building did.&nbsp;The building that is visible on the right is the Masonic Temple which was also demolished to make room for a quite ordinary glass building.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-side-of-the-former-public-library/382/
Wilbrod Street near Nelson Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wilbrod-street-near-nelson-street/381/
Former Bridge at Strathcona Park - Part IIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-bridge-at-strathcona-park-part-ii/380/
Strathcona Park - Part IVhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/strathcona-park-part-iv/379/
Animated Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/animated-sparks-street/378/
Public Library on Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/public-library-on-metcalfe/377/
Windsor Hotel at Metcalfe & Queenhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/windsor-hotel-at-metcalfe-queen/376/
Sparks Street Between Elgin & SparksThis picture shows the south side of Sparks Street between Elgin and Metcalfe a few years after it was turned into a pedestrian street.&nbsp;&nbsp;What is the most striking on that photo is the disappearance of several buildings where the RBC building is nowadays. On this photo only, seven boutiques with street access have been replaced by a single building that offers a single access to the street which consolidates the morosely of Sparks Street.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-between-elgin-sparks/375/
South-East Corner of Sparks & Elginhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-east-corner-of-sparks-elgin/374/
Public Library at the Corner of Metcalfe & Laurierhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/public-library-at-the-corner-of-metcalfe-laurier/373/
Grand Union Hôtel on Elgin StreetThe British High-Commission has now replaced the Grand Union Hotel which was located at the corner of Elgin and Queen Strtet.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/grand-union-hotel-on-elgin-street/372/
Former Bridge at Strathcona Parkhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-bridge-at-strathcona-park/371/
Daly Street near NelsonDaly Street near Nelson in Sandy Hill with the camera looking east.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/daly-street-near-nelson/370/
Strathcona Park - Part IIIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/strathcona-park-part-iii/369/
St. Joseph SchoolThe former St. Joseph school was located on the long gone College Street near Osgoode street. &nbsp;The site has been swallowed by the University of Ottawa and the Fauteux Hall (Law Faculty) is now located on that lot.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-joseph-school/368/
Strathcona Park Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/strathcona-park-looking-north/367/
Tabaret Hall of University of Ottawahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/tabaret-hall-of-university-of-ottawa/366/
Stairs at Strathcona Parkhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/stairs-at-strathcona-park/365/
Rideau River with Sandy Hillhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-river-with-sandy-hill/364/
Strathcona Park with Isolation Hospitalhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/strathcona-park-with-isolation-hospital/363/
Booth Street on Victoria Island with 2 Streetcarshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-street-on-victoria-island-with-2-streetcars/362/
Court & Bureau in Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/court-bureau-in-hull/361/
Main Street in HullPost card of Main Street in Hull at a time when the post office was still up. &nbsp;The entire landscape was wiped out by the Great Fire of 1900.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/main-street-in-hull/360/
Booth Street Between Victoria & Chaudière Islandshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-street-between-victoria-chaudiere-islands/359/
Nepean Point with the FootbridgeThe archival photo shows the footbridge that used to link the Nepean Point to Major Hill Park.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/nepean-point-with-the-footbridge/358/
Hull from OttawaThis view from Hull reveals where the Notre-Dame Church used to stand. &nbsp;The Notre-Dame Church was demolished in the 1970s.Despite the several improvements done on the north shore of the Ottawa River, the area photographed seems still heavily industrialized.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hull-from-ottawa/357/
Booth Street near Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-street-near-hull/356/
Scott Block on Main Street in HullHere is version 2 of the Scott Block.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/scott-block-on-main-street-in-hull/355/
Bank Hotel on Eddy Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-hotel-on-eddy-street/354/
Ottawa River with Parliament HillThis photo shot in 1963 by Malak Karsh, "Paper &amp; Politics", shows how still industrial was the Quebecer's side of the Ottawa River.This photo became popular as it was used at the back of the 1 dollar bill which was printed 3.4 billions of times between 1974 and 1989.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ottawa-river-with-parliament-hill/353/
Former Post Office in HullA few meters from former Hull City Hall, the Post Office of downtown Hull was standing on Main Street (nowadays Promenade du Portage).The post office, just like 4000 other buildings, got destroy by the Great Fire of 1900.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-post-office-in-hull/352/
Chaudière Island and Former Eddy & Booth Millshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chaudiere-island-and-former-eddy-booth-mills/351/
Wellington Street & Eddy Street in Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-eddy-street-in-hull/350/
Wellington Street and Metcalfe Street from the Peace TowerServeral buildings on that picture have been demolished, especially the ones on Wellington notably the Rideau Club and most banks from the Bankers' Row.The trees on the north side of Wellington are also long gone.One can see the Roxborough Apartments on the left on Laurier Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-and-metcalfe-street-from-the-peace-tower/349/
Lisgar Street near Bronson StreetThe two important buildings on the east side of Bronson are almost identical have barely changed.A tree is standing roughly at the same place on the right hand side of the Lisgar from which we can safely assume that it is the same tree that grew to a spectacular size in the 75 years that separate both images. Imagine a second how tall and majestic the trees in front of the Parliament would be if they would have kept them growing for 100 years.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lisgar-street-near-bronson-street/348/
Lisgar Street Close to Bay Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lisgar-street-close-to-bay-street/347/
Percy Street @ Lisgar Looking SouthAnother view of the blacksmith property Ed Groleau of Percy and Lisgar.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/percy-street-lisgar-looking-south/346/
Percy Street @ Lisgar Looking NorthThe former houses right against the sidewalk on the west side of the street lent a more urban style to the street. &nbsp;The building that we see at the end of Percy is the Library and Archives Canada building.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/percy-street-lisgar-looking-north/345/
Lisgar Street @ O'Connor Looking WestMost of the houses on the left hand side have been replaced by a parking lot.The condo tower in the 2013 shot is the Soho Lisgar.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lisgar-street-o-connor-looking-west/344/
Bay Street @ Lisgar Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bay-street-lisgar-looking-north/343/
Knox Church on Elgin StreetElgin Street stops being a traditional main street at Lisgar Street where it swells up from 2 lanes to 6 lanes. &nbsp;The archival photo clearly shows the unbroken line of trees that previously rand the length of &nbsp;Elgin Street north of Lisgar Street.Elgin Street also had a streetcar line as we can see the tracks in the middle of the street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/knox-church-on-elgin-street/342/
Knox Church at Elgin and LisgarThe Knox Church , on the south-east corner of Elgin and Lisgar, has not changed much over the last 70 years.&nbsp;The Knox Church is only a few years old on that photo since the first building, located at Elgin and Laurier, was demolished in the 1930s to make room for a wider Elgin street.&nbsp;The condo tower that you can see in the 2013 photo is the Merit by Charlesfort Developments.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/knox-church-at-elgin-and-lisgar/341/
Elgin Street @ Lisgar Looking NorthThe streetscape of Elgin
street was substanTially altered in the 70
years that separate the two photos. &nbsp;The only 2 buildings that remained
on Elgin are the Normal School and the First Baptist Church. &nbsp;The Bell
Place and other modern buildings took over the Victorian houses and
low-rIse apartment buildings.One can actually see the Roxborough Apartments on the corner of Laurier and Elgin streets.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-lisgar-looking-north/340/
South-West Corner of Percy & LisgarEd Groleau Blacksmith was located on the south-west corner of Percy and Lisgar streets before the Rideau Curling Club took over the same spot.The houses on the right in the picture are practically identical as they were about 75 years ago.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-west-corner-of-percy-lisgar/339/
Cathcart Street @ King EdwardThis photo shows Cathcart Street at King-Edward Avenue looking west.Most of the houses on the south side of Cathcart Street are still standing today. &nbsp;However, the row houses on the north side have been replaced with new ones.The trees on King-Edward Avenue also disappeared.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/cathcart-street-king-edward/338/
Notre-Dame BasilicaThe lot in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica served as the backyards of the row houses that existed on St. Patrick Street before the National Gallery took over.Far from ideal in 1938, the current state of this prime location is not any better when it comes to public space: it should have been a natural extension of the Major Hill Park, but instead it is isolated (and therefore not used as it should be) from the park by the mingling of Murray, St. Patrick, Sussex and Mackenzie avenue. &nbsp;Note that the segment of Mackenzie avenue from which that picture has been taken no longer exists.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/notre-dame-basilica/337/
Hydro-Ottawa Station on King EdwardThe Hydro-Ottawa Station on King-Edward was designed by the architect W.C. Beattie in the 1920s. &nbsp;Despite the drastic changes that King-Edward went through, from an treed neighbourhood street to a highway style boulevard, the Hydro-Ottawa station remained almost exactly the same: only the main front door arc was removed.The front lot was pushed back to accommodate the width of the new King-Edward.The building is also much more isolated than it used to be now that the surrounding buildings are gone.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hydro-ottawa-station-on-king-edward/336/
Rideau Street @ King Edward Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-king-edward-looking-east/335/
Corry Block & Union Station on Rideauhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corry-block-union-station-on-rideau/334/
King Edward Avenue @ Rideau Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/king-edward-avenue-rideau-looking-north/333/
St. Patrick Street @ King Edward Looking Westhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-patrick-street-king-edward-looking-west/332/
King Edward Avenue @ Guigues StreetNote that back in the day, kids used to play on King-Edward as it was filled with trees and grass. &nbsp;That situation nowadays would be for slightly inappropriate. &nbsp;Even taking the 2013 shot was quite an adventure.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/king-edward-avenue-guigues-street/331/
Synagogue on King Edward Avenuehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/synagogue-on-king-edward-avenue/330/
Former Linear Park on King Edward Avenuehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-linear-park-on-king-edward-avenue/329/
Rail Bridge over the Rideau Riverhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rail-bridge-over-the-rideau-river/328/
The Mint on SussexThis photo of the north-end section of Sussex drive (formerly Sussex street) reveals an almost identical MINT building. &nbsp;The numerous electrical posts and wires have been removed since then.The building on the right has been replaced by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/the-mint-on-sussex/327/
Murray Street @ Sussex Drive Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/murray-street-sussex-drive-looking-east/326/
Sussex Drive @ John Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-john-street/325/
Sussex Drive @ Guigues StreetGuigues Street was called Water Street in 1938.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-guigues-street/324/
Sussex Drive & NRChttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-nrc/323/
Albert Street @ Metcalfe Street Looking Westhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-metcalfe-street-looking-west/322/
Albert Street @ Metcalfe Street Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-metcalfe-street-looking-east/321/
Albert Street with the Hunter Buildinghttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-with-the-hunter-building/320/
Cathcart Street @ Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/cathcart-street-sussex-drive/319/
Sussex Drive @ St-Patrickhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-st-patrick/318/
Albert Street near Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-near-metcalfe/317/
Albert Street between Bank & O'ConnorLet's hope this is not what they have in mind when they are talking about inviting street-level design.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-between-bank-o-connor/316/
Albert Street @ Bank Looking EastOn this photo, they have immortalized Albert Street looking east at Bank Street. &nbsp;We can see the Hunter Building from a distance which is on O'Connor.The only&nbsp;building&nbsp;in the picture&nbsp;still standing today is the one housing the Bridgehead coffee shop.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-bank-looking-east/315/
Albert Street near Bank StreetThe massive building on the right was the Hunter Building.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-near-bank-street/314/
Looking West Albert Street & Bankhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/looking-west-albert-street-bank/313/
South-West Corner of O'Connor and Alberthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-west-corner-of-o-connor-and-albert/312/
Elgin Street @ Albert Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-albert-street/311/
South-East Corner of Laurier & Wallerhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-east-corner-of-laurier-waller/309/
Former Hastey Street @ LaurierThe former Hastey street was named after the Mayor Mr. Robert A. Hastey. &nbsp;Strangely, Mr. Hastey was in office for less than a month. Before that, he has been a city councillor for about 12 years.The Hastey street was removed when the University of Ottawa expanded south.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-hastey-street-laurier/308/
Former Cumberland & Osgoode IntersectionMorisset Hall of the University of Ottawa is now where that former Cumberland &amp; Osgoode intersection used to be.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-cumberland-osgoode-intersection/307/
Laurier & Cumberlandhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/laurier-cumberland/306/
Nicholas Street & Laurierhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/nicholas-street-laurier/305/
Former Osgoode & Nicholas Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-osgoode-nicholas-intersection/304/
Elgin and Wellington Street from the Peace TowerSeveral buildings on the archive picture no longer exist: the Russell House, the City Hall, the Knox Church and the post office.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-and-wellington-street-from-the-peace-tower/303/
ByWard Markethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/byward-market/302/
North-West Corner of Dalhousie & GeorgeThe imposing building at the corner of Dalhousie and George was "Le Monument National", fortress of francophone culture in Ontario. It was built in 1906 and was demolished in 1961 to make room for a Holiday Inn(!).&nbsp;In 1903, the lawyer J.O. Vincent as well as &nbsp;many other members of the francophone community of Ottawa launched an ambitious campaign to fiancé the construction of the Monument National which the cost was estimated to $35 000. &nbsp;The total sum was collected in just under a year and the building was inaugurated in May of 1906.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-west-corner-of-dalhousie-george/301/
Rideau & Sussex IntersectionThe busiest intersection in Ottawa had a totally different look and feeling around 70 years ago.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-sussex-intersection/300/
North Building of the Byward Markethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-building-of-the-byward-market/299/
St. Andrew's Chruch on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-andrew-s-chruch-on-wellington/298/
Sparks Street & ElginThis intersection of Sparks and Elgin has been drastically modified with the construction of the War Memorial. &nbsp;The east part of Sparks was removed as well as all the buildings standing on that portion of the street. &nbsp;On this picture, we can see the Dominion Express Co. and the&nbsp;McLaurin &amp; Millar Barristers &amp; Co. &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-elgin/297/
Wellington Street with the Post Officehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-with-the-post-office/296/
Queen & Elgin Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-elgin-intersection/295/
Lovers' WalkQuite difficult to get access to, the Lovers' walk seems ready for a face-lift. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lovers-walk/294/
West Side of the Daly Buildinghttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/west-side-of-the-daly-building/293/
Lord Elgin HotelThe Lord Elgin Hotel was built in 1941 after the north end of Elgin street was widened for the Queen visit.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lord-elgin-hotel/292/
Elgin and Queen Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-and-queen-street/291/
Former Sparks and Elgin Block http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-sparks-and-elgin-block-/290/
Russell House on Sparks & Elginhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-house-on-sparks-elgin/289/
Corry Block & Union Stationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corry-block-union-station/288/
Masonic Temple on Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/masonic-temple-on-metcalfe/287/
Russell House on Sparks StreetIts seems like the archival photo was taken when the hotel was out of business since some glass is missing from the top windows.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-house-on-sparks-street/286/
Russell Theatrehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-theatre/285/
Former Post Office on Sparkshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-post-office-on-sparks/284/
Roxborough Apartments on Laurierhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartments-on-laurier/283/
Byward Markethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/byward-market/282/
Chaudiere and Victoria Island http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chaudiere-and-victoria-island-/281/
Rideau Canal & Union Station from the Peace Towerhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-union-station-from-the-peace-tower/280/
Wellington Street from the Peace Tower - Part IITo this day, all the buildings along Wellington between Metcalfe and O'Connor have been demolished or are vacant at the time of writing this. &nbsp;A friendly reminder that this block is straight in front of Parliarment and it is owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC).http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-from-the-peace-tower-part-ii/279/
Major Hill Parkhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/major-hill-park/278/
Centretown West from the Peace Towerhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/centretown-west-from-the-peace-tower/277/
Major Hill Park from the Peace Towerhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/major-hill-park-from-the-peace-tower/276/
View from the Peace Tower of the Rideau Canal and the University of OttawaThis photo was taken from the Peace Tower. &nbsp;Interesting to see that a lot of houses were standing on the site where the University of Ottawa is today.The details of the buildings, including the Russell House, of the block Wellington-Sparks-Elgin are clearly visible.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/view-from-the-peace-tower-of-the-rideau-canal-and-the-university-of-ottawa/275/
South-East View of Downtown OttawaThe picture shown on the postcard was taken before a lot of key buildings of the downtown core were built. &nbsp;Only the East Block and the Langevin Block were standing at the time. &nbsp;The triangular block Sparks-Elgin-Wellington looked far busier back then before they decided to demolish it and build the War Memorial.Please note that the angle is slightly different since the previous main tower of the Parliament was shorter than the existing Peace Tower.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-east-view-of-downtown-ottawa/274/
Mackenzie AvenueMackenzie Avenue was not as closed as it is today with the American Embassy. &nbsp;We could see Sussex drive and the Notre-Dame Basilica as well as the printing bureau on the left-hand side behind the row of trees.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/mackenzie-avenue/271/
Wellington Street from the Peace TowerA lot of building on that photo have disappeared: the Rideau Club (1979) and a bank (Banque Nationale?) on what used to be called the Bankers' Row.Note that we used to be able to see the Museum of Nature and several churches on Elgin street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-from-the-peace-tower/270/
Hull from Nepean Point - IIThe church on the right is the Notre-Dame Church which was demolished in 1971.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hull-from-nepean-point-ii/269/
Nepean Point with CannonsThe picture was taken before the first version of the Parliament burned down in 1916. &nbsp;The square building that you can see on the right is the American Bank Note on Wellington.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/nepean-point-with-cannons/268/
Alexandra Bridge from the Nepean Point FootbridgeThis comparison is not the best we have ever done for a reason as simple as that the footbridge from which the original photo had been taken has been demolished decades ago.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/alexandra-bridge-from-the-nepean-point-footbridge/267/
Printing Bureau and the National Galleryhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/printing-bureau-and-the-national-gallery/266/
Notre-Dame Basilica & The National Galleryhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/notre-dame-basilica-the-national-gallery/265/
Dufferin Bridge & the Rideau Canalhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/dufferin-bridge-the-rideau-canal/264/
Former Post Office on Wellington Street - Part IIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-post-office-on-wellington-street-part-ii/263/
Clarence and Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/clarence-and-sussex-drive/262/
Former Post OfficeThe former post office did not survived the obsession of Mackenzie-King to build the War Memorial on the Hill, at the end of Elgin Street. Mr. Gréber who was serving his first mandate in Ottawa in urban planning, preferred Major Hill Park to put the War Memorial.&nbsp;
Despite the Mackenzie-King's strong will to place the War Memorial at the former Connaught Place, the prime-minister did not consider that his decision would had to condemn several buildings East of Elgin Street (the Woods Apartments, Bates Apartments and the Central Station). He rallied to Gréber's sketches in which he concluded were greatly aligned with his original idea: leave his mark in Ottawa.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-post-office/261/
Hull from Nepean Pointhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hull-from-nepean-point/260/
Sappers & Dufferin BridgesThe photo was taken before the construction of the Château Laurier and Union Station (1912).http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sappers-dufferin-bridges/259/
Gilmour House on Bank Street - Part IIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/gilmour-house-on-bank-street-part-ii/258/
Back of the Buildings on the Former Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/back-of-the-buildings-on-the-former-wellington-street/257/
Former Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-wellington-street/256/
Bronson near the Escarpmenthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bronson-near-the-escarpment/255/
Ottawa & Booth Street at Lebreton Flatshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ottawa-booth-street-at-lebreton-flats/254/
Booth & Duke Streets at Lebreton Flatshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-duke-streets-at-lebreton-flats/253/
Parliament Hill Viewed from Victoria Islandhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/parliament-hill-viewed-from-victoria-island/252/
Chaudiere Bridge on Victoria Islandhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chaudiere-bridge-on-victoria-island/251/
Old Mill on Victoria Islandhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/old-mill-on-victoria-island/250/
Albert Street in the Lebreton Flatshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-in-the-lebreton-flats/249/
Albert Street from the Escarpmenthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/albert-street-from-the-escarpment/248/
Middle Street on Victoria Islandhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/middle-street-on-victoria-island/247/
Victoria Island from the Supreme Courthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/victoria-island-from-the-supreme-court/246/
Slater Street @ Bank Street Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/slater-street-bank-street-looking-east/245/
Chambers Building on the Corner of Elgin and Queenhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chambers-building-on-the-corner-of-elgin-and-queen/244/
Capitol Cinema at Bank and QueenBuilt in 1920, the Capitol Cinema barely made it to its 50th anniversary. &nbsp;It had 2530 seats and had been designed by the theatre-architect Thomas W. Lamb.In 1924, the cinema was renamed "Keith's Vaudeville" after being bought by American Keith theatre circuit.The last movie presented was M.A.S.H on May first 1970.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/capitol-cinema-at-bank-and-queen/243/
Elgin Street Before the NAChttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-before-the-nac/242/
South-West Corner of Sparks & Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-west-corner-of-sparks-metcalfe/241/
Slater Street Looking East at Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/slater-street-looking-east-at-metcalfe/240/
South-East Corner of Metcalfe & Sparkshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-east-corner-of-metcalfe-sparks/239/
Rideau Street Looking EastThe Daly building and the Corry Block are no longer. &nbsp;They had quite an impact on the area.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-looking-east/238/
Gilmour House on Bank StreetThe Gimour House was built in 1895 and destroyed by a fire in 1905. &nbsp;The Alexandra Hotel was built in 1907 on the nord-west corner of Bank street and Gilmour street. &nbsp;The Alexandra Hotel continued its activities until the late 1970s and was demolished in the 80s.More details about the Gilmour House on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/gilmour-house-on-bank-street/237/
Train Leaving Union Stationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/train-leaving-union-station/236/
Frank and Elgin Street - Part IIHere is an example of regression of the urban landscape: a multi-purpose building (dwelling and store) is replaced by a smaller, single-purpose building.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/frank-and-elgin-street-part-ii/235/
Frank and Elgin Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/frank-and-elgin-street/234/
Rideau Street with former Daly Building & Corry BlockEverybody knows the Daly building on the right-hand side of the photo. The&nbsp;Corry Block where the sign "Banque Canadienne Nationale" is on the left-hand side. &nbsp;The NCC decided to tear down both buildings, and many others, to increase car flow into the area. &nbsp;They had the clever idea of creating a pedestrian tunnel where no ones wants to hang out.Is connecting the NAC and the future Rideau station with another underground link in the LRT blueprints?http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-with-former-daly-building-corry-block/233/
Sussex Drive & Daly Buildinghttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-drive-daly-building/232/
Railroad along the Rideau CanalThis is what happens when brutalism meets with urban renewal.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/railroad-along-the-rideau-canal/231/
Little Sussex & Bessererhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/little-sussex-besserer/230/
Château Laurier & Daly BuildingThe Daly Building was erected in 1905, before the Château Laurier which construction began in 1910. &nbsp;The Daly Building was the first department store of Ottawa. &nbsp;In 1915, it was bought by the federal government and turned into office space in 1921. &nbsp;After decades of negligence by the owner, the NCC, the civil servants left the building in 1978. It was demolished in 1991 and the site remained vacant for over a decade before the NCC decided what to do with empty lot.The full story here.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chateau-laurier-daly-building/229/
A.J. Freiman on Rideauhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/a-j-freiman-on-rideau/228/
Former Mosgrove StreetThe former Mosgrove Street changed its name to Freiman Street before being occupied by the Freiman mall and the Rideau Centre in the 1980s.It was a short street which was extending from George Street to the former Canal bassin near Albert Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-mosgrove-street/227/
Tramway in front of Langevin BlockHere is another way of presenting the 2 photos.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/tramway-in-front-of-langevin-block/226/
Rideau Street @ Sussex Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-street-sussex-looking-east/225/
Former Ottawa Bank on Wellington - Part IIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-ottawa-bank-on-wellington-part-ii/224/
Former Ottawa Bank on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-ottawa-bank-on-wellington/223/
Garland Building at Queen and O'Connorhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/garland-building-at-queen-and-o-connor/222/
Queen Street near Lyonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-near-lyon/221/
Queen Street Looking West from Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-looking-west-from-metcalfe/220/
Queen Street @ O'Connor Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-o-connor-looking-east/219/
Former Y.M.C.A on Queen Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-y-m-c-a-on-queen-street/218/
Garland Buildinghttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/garland-building/217/
Queen Street between Metcalfe and O'Connorhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-between-metcalfe-and-o-connor/216/
O'Connor Street @ Queen Street http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/o-connor-street-queen-street-/215/
Lyon Street @ Queen Looking Southhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lyon-street-queen-looking-south/214/
Free Press Building corner of Elgin & Queenhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/free-press-building-corner-of-elgin-queen/213/
Queen Street @ Metcalfe Looking Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-metcalfe-looking-east/212/
Queen Street @ Bank Looking Westhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-street-bank-looking-west/211/
Former Capitol Theatre at 204 Queenhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-capitol-theatre-at-204-queen/210/
Metcalfe @ Lisgar Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-lisgar-looking-north/209/
North Side of Metcalfe & Queen Streetshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-side-of-metcalfe-queen-streets/194/
Former Imperial on Bank Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-imperial-on-bank-street/193/
Bank Street @ Lewishttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-street-lewis/192/
Former Bank of Ottawahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-bank-of-ottawa/191/
Bank @ Laurier Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-laurier-looking-north/190/
Bank & Laurier looking southhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-laurier-looking-south/189/
Corner Somerset & Bankhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corner-somerset-bank/188/
South Corner of Bank and Lewishttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-corner-of-bank-and-lewis/187/
South-West Corner of Bank & Gladstonehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-west-corner-of-bank-gladstone/186/
Former Rialto Theatre on Bankhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-rialto-theatre-on-bank/185/
St. George Hall on BankThe St. Georges Hall was demolished the 1960s.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-george-hall-on-bank/184/
South-East Corner of Wellington & Lyonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/south-east-corner-of-wellington-lyon/183/
Former Block on WellingtonHere is a personal color interpretation of the archival image.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-block-on-wellington/182/
Wellington Street near LyonThis photo of Wellington Street looking east shows a much different street. The only two buildings that still remain nowadays are the St. Andrew Church at Kent Street and the Metropolitan Life Insurance building at Bank Street.
Since the creation of Ottawa, Wellington Street grew organically and exhibited 3 to 5 story buildings with most of them had commercial space on the ground floor. Jacques Gréber thought that the existing buildings on the south side of Wellington were not grandiose enough for the institutional and nation building vision for Wellington Street.
The Department for Veterans (now the Justice Department) took over all of the smaller, but well integrated buildings.
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-near-lyon/181/
Former Uppertown Market on Lyonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-uppertown-market-on-lyon/180/
National Canadian Bank on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/national-canadian-bank-on-wellington/178/
Former National Canadian Bank on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-national-canadian-bank-on-wellington/177/
Rideau Clubhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-club/176/
Wellington Street with the Former Rideau ClubThe Rideau Club was dammaged by fire and then demolished a few weeks later in 1979.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-with-the-former-rideau-club/175/
Medical Arts Building http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/medical-arts-building-/174/
North-end of the Rideau-Sussex Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-end-of-the-rideau-sussex-intersection/173/
Rideau & Mackenzie-King Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-mackenzie-king-intersection/172/
East side of Metcalfe & Gloucesterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/east-side-of-metcalfe-gloucester/171/
Booth Complex - Part 7A more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-7/170/
Booth Complex - Part 6http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-6/169/
Booth Complex - Part 5There is a more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-5/168/
Booth & Carling IntersectionThere is a more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-carling-intersection/167/
Booth Complex - Part 4There is a more detailed description on &lt;a href="http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-booth-street-laboratories.html" title="" target=""&gt;Urbsite&lt;/a&gt;.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-4/166/
Booth Complex - Part 3A more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-3/165/
Booth Complex - Part 2A more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex-part-2/164/
Booth ComplexA more detailed description on Urbsite.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-complex/163/
Queen's Hallhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-s-hall/162/
Queen's Hall at Bank & Somersethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/queen-s-hall-at-bank-somerset/161/
Wellington Street @ O'Connorhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-o-connor/160/
Wellington Street in front of the Bank of Canadahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-in-front-of-the-bank-of-canada/159/
Union Station & Rideau Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/union-station-rideau-street/158/
Daly Building on Rideauhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/daly-building-on-rideau/157/
Bankers' Row on Wellington StreetThe Union Bank Building, on the far right on the photo, located at the 128 Wellington Street is the last building of the famous Bankers' Row.It hosted the first branch of the Union Bank of Canada in 1871. &nbsp;The building was representative of the late-19th century conventions. &nbsp;It contained a residence for the bank manager and his family, and its offices were designed to deal with business clients.In 1962, it almost got demolished when the American Embassy assembled the surrouding buildings for expansion. &nbsp;The federal government bought the bank and leased it to the American who used it as storage. &nbsp;At its peak, the Bankers' Row hosted the following banks: The Ontario Bank, The Canadian Bank of Commerce, the Bank of Ottawa, the Quebec Bank, the Union Bank and La Banque Nationale. &nbsp;The Bank of Montreal was closing the row at the corner of Wellington and O'Connor.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bankers-row-on-wellington-street/156/
Former YMCA at the corner of Laurier and MetcalfeThe Indigo Hotel is now at the same locationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-ymca-at-the-corner-of-laurier-and-metcalfe/155/
Elgin @ Somersethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-somerset/154/
Ottawa & Hull Aerial Viewhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ottawa-hull-aerial-view/153/
Sparks Street @ Metcalfe Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-metcalfe-street/151/
Major Hill Park Before the National Galleryhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/major-hill-park-before-the-national-gallery/150/
Notre-Dame Basilica & Printing Bureauhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/notre-dame-basilica-printing-bureau/149/
St. Patrick Basilica on Kent Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-patrick-basilica-on-kent-street/148/
Sparks street @ Bankhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-bank/146/
Sparks Street Betweem Kent and Lyonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-betweem-kent-and-lyon/145/
Sparks & Kent Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-kent-intersection/144/
Former Uppertown Markethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-uppertown-market/143/
Sparks Street with the Russell Househttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-with-the-russell-house/142/
Murphy & Gamble on Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/murphy-gamble-on-sparks-street/141/
Sparks Street between Metcalfe and O'Connorhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-between-metcalfe-and-o-connor/140/
102 Sparks with Masson & Cohttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/102-sparks-with-masson-co/139/
Royal Bank on Sparkshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/royal-bank-on-sparks/138/
Sparks Street @ Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-metcalfe/137/
Citizen Building on Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/citizen-building-on-sparks-street/136/
Blackburn Building @ Sparks & Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/blackburn-building-sparks-metcalfe/135/
Ottawa Citizen Buildinghttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ottawa-citizen-building/134/
Bay & Sparks Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bay-sparks-intersection/133/
When Sparks Split in Two We'd like to know if anybody likes going or walking in the desolated Garden of the Provinces?http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/when-sparks-split-in-two-/132/
Elgin and Sparks Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-and-sparks-intersection/131/
Hull in 1894http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hull-in-1894/130/
Bates Apartments on Slater - Part IIIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bates-apartments-on-slater-part-iii/129/
Aylmer Apartments parking lothttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-apartments-parking-lot/128/
Bates Apartments on Slater - Part IIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bates-apartments-on-slater-part-ii/127/
Bates Apartments on Slater - Part Ihttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bates-apartments-on-slater-part-i/126/
Rideau Canal & Chateau Laurierhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-chateau-laurier/125/
Elgin Street with City Hall and Knox Churchhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-with-city-hall-and-knox-church/124/
Aylmer Appartments on Slater - Part IIIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-appartments-on-slater-part-iii/123/
Aylmer Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-apartments-on-slater/122/
Aylmer Appartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-appartments-on-slater/121/
Grand Union Hotel on Elginhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/grand-union-hotel-on-elgin/120/
Aylmer Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-apartments-on-slater/119/
Elgin Street, City Hall, Streetcar and Grand Union Hotelhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-city-hall-streetcar-and-grand-union-hotel/118/
Lowertown East Maphttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lowertown-east-map/117/
Canadian Museum of Naturehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/canadian-museum-of-nature/116/
Saint Luke Parkhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/saint-luke-park/115/
Roundabout at Elgin and Pretoriahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roundabout-at-elgin-and-pretoria/114/
Canadian Museum of Naturehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/canadian-museum-of-nature/113/
Elgin near Gladstonehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-near-gladstone/112/
Lowertown north before DFAITThe major changes in that area are the widening of King-Edward Avenue and the construction of the Foreign Affairs Department (DFATD). &nbsp;Ironically, the streets Baird and Mckay were laid out exactly where the DFATD building is right now. &nbsp;Peter McKay is the former head of DFATD and John Baird is the current minister of DFATD.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lowertown-north-before-dfait/111/
Union Station & Corry Block 2http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/union-station-corry-block-2/110/
Union Station & Corry Blockhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/union-station-corry-block/109/
Map of LeBreton FlatsLeBreton Flats had it rough. &nbsp;First, it was devasted by the 1900 fire. Around 60 years later, it was demolished a second time after massive expropriation authorized by the NCC. &nbsp;The NCC sat on this empty piece of land for nearly fifty years.Finally, in 2005, the LeBreton Flats received the first new tenants: the War Museum. &nbsp;A few years later, Claridge was given the mandate to re-develop this area. &nbsp;Far from being the thriving area they promised, Claridge make sure that the area stays as sterilized as possible without pertubing the traffic which seems to have increased by 10 folds since they replaced the former street grid by roads as wide as rivers.You can read the complete story here.Here is a list of the streets that got wiped out:Broad&nbsp;streetPerkins&nbsp;streetCathcart&nbsp;streetQueen&nbsp;streetDuke&nbsp;streetBritannia&nbsp;streetOregon&nbsp;streetOttawa&nbsp;streetHerd&nbsp;streetChaudière streetUnion Squarehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/map-of-lebreton-flats/108/
Roxborough Apartments on Laurier Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartments-on-laurier-street/107/
Roxborough Apartments on Laurierhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartments-on-laurier/106/
Aylmer Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/aylmer-apartments-on-slater/105/
Woods Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/woods-apartments-on-slater/104/
Woods Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/woods-apartments-on-slater/103/
Woods Apartments on Slaterhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/woods-apartments-on-slater/102/
Former block on Slater Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-block-on-slater-street/101/
Elgin Street Looking SouthThe Woods Appartments and the Roxborough Appartments were the building on the left-hand side of the photos. &nbsp;They were demolished to make room for the Mackenzie King Bridge and the Confederation Park. Along with 6 other appartment buildings, their tenants got given 48 hours to leave their appartments since the country was at war.&nbsp;Sources: Urbsitehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-looking-south/100/
Woods Apartments and NAChttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/woods-apartments-and-nac/99/
Elgin Street Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-looking-north/98/
Elgin @ AlbertA much more friendly Elgin Street is depicted on the 1938 photo when it only had one lane in each direction.&nbsp; The park that was located in front of the Grand Union Hotel was the consequences of the fire which detroyed the former City Hall located on Elgin Street between Albert and Queen Street.&nbsp; The blueish building on the West side of Elgin Steet is the British High Commission which was inaugurated in 1964.&nbsp; The former tenant of that block was the Grand Union Hotel and it was demolished in 1962 after being in operation for 112 years.The neo-classical building on the far right was the Post Office which only had a couple of months before being torn down to make room for the sadly famous War Memorial.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-albert/97/
Elgin Street @ Laurier Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-laurier-street/96/
Langevin BlockDue to the critical lack of office space on Parliament Hill, the south side of Wellington was designed to host a new departmental building. &nbsp;Instead of going for the Gothic Revival style of the building on Parliament Hill, it was decided to align the design of that new building with the already existing buildings of the Bankers' Row along Wellington street.In 1895, it hosted the Post Office Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Patent Branch and the Department of Indians Affairs.In 1975 the building was retro-fited and is now hosting the PCO. &nbsp;In 1974 is became protected by the Ontario Heritage Act.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/langevin-block/95/
Roxborough Apartments on LaurierThe Roxborough appartments were demolished because M. Gréber and its master plan call for a park at this very location. &nbsp;Several other buildings were removed to make room for the Confederation park.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/roxborough-apartments-on-laurier/94/
Majestic Theatre on Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/majestic-theatre-on-sparks-street/93/
Topley Camera Shophttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/topley-camera-shop/92/
Sparks @ O'ConnorThe south-west corner of Sparks and O'Connor. &nbsp;In 1907, it was Poulin's general store and in 2012 it is a Zellers that will close in the next few month.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-o-connor/91/
North-West Corner of Sparks & Metcalfehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/north-west-corner-of-sparks-metcalfe/90/
Sparks Street @ Metcalfe looking westhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-metcalfe-looking-west/89/
94-96 Sparks StreetBeautiful victorian building replaced by one way less interesting architecturally. One consolation, they maintained the commercial space on ground floor so the building can interact with whatever is left of life on Sparks Street.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/94-96-sparks-street/88/
Decorated Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/decorated-sparks-street/87/
Russell House on Sparkshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-house-on-sparks/86/
Elgin Street corner of Sparks StreetOn this photos we can see the Russell House (on the left) and the old City Hall behind the green arch.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-corner-of-sparks-street/85/
Elgin and SparksCorner of Elgin and Sparks Street when the post office was still up.The picture was taken before they built the war memorial and about 10 years after then have demolished the block where the Russell House used to live.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-and-sparks/83/
Ottawa former City HallThe former Ottawa city hall was located at the corner of Elgin and Queen Street.The National Art Centre is now at the same location.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/ottawa-former-city-hall/82/
Grand Union Hotel, OttawaThe Grand Union Hotel was erected at the south-west corner of Elgin and Queen Street in Ottawa.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/grand-union-hotel-ottawa/81/
Russell House @ War Memorial The Russell House has been demolished in the 1920s after being&nbsp;damaged&nbsp;by a fire.&nbsp; The War Memorial sits where the Russell House used to be. http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-house-war-memorial-/80/
Russell House corner Elgin & Sparks Streetshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/russell-house-corner-elgin-sparks-streets/79/
Sparks Street view from the Russell Househttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-view-from-the-russell-house/78/
Postcard of Ottawa Union Station http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/postcard-of-ottawa-union-station-/77/
Metcalfe Street @ Lisgar looking towards ParliamentThe only building still standing in 2012 when the present photo was taken is the Medical Art Building that stands on the corner of Metcalfe Street and Nepean Street. &nbsp;The houses on the East-side of Metcalfe are long gone and the Tribeca, a high-rise condominium building, from Claridge is being built on the same site. &nbsp;A Sobey's grocery store will occupy the ground floor of the Tribeca 1 and Tribeca 2 tours.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/metcalfe-street-lisgar-looking-towards-parliament/67/
Rideau Club - Fronting the ParliamentThe Rideau Club was demolished in 1979 after being damaged by a fire.Langevin Block was the first governmental building outside Parliament Hill. &nbsp;It is now the home of the prime minister office.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-club-fronting-the-parliament/47/
Elgin Street Looking North towards ParliamentThe building on the right is the Russell House. It got damaged by a fire in 1928 and then demolished.&nbsp; The site was expropriated by the federal government to build the War Memorial.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-looking-north-towards-parliament/5/
Rideau Club on Wellington StreetThe Rideau Club was located just in front of the Parliament on Wellington.&nbsp; It was destroyed by a fire in 1979 and was demolished the same year.&nbsp; The site is still site empty in 2013, 34 years later, and the NCC does not have any plan to make this change.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-club-on-wellington-street/76/
Removed Section of Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/removed-section-of-sparks-street/75/
Wellington and Sparks Street IntersectionFormer intersection of Sparks and Wellington street from the top of the hill near Christ Church.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-and-sparks-street-intersection/74/
Former section of Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-section-of-sparks-street/73/
Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street/72/
Wellington and Sparks Street Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-and-sparks-street-intersection/71/
O'Connor Street @ Lisgar Looking Northhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/o-connor-street-lisgar-looking-north/70/
Normal School - Elgin and Lisgarhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/normal-school-elgin-and-lisgar/69/
181 Metcalfe - Now the Tribecahttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/181-metcalfe-now-the-tribeca/68/
O'Connor Street @ Lisgar Looking Southhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/o-connor-street-lisgar-looking-south/66/
Lisgar @ O'ConnorThe O'Connor and Lisgar intersection looking south&nbsp;or O'Connor and Lisgar looking north.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lisgar-o-connor/65/
Lisgar Street @ Elgin StreetThe&nbsp;Ottawa&nbsp;Normal School was built in 1874 and was integrated to the new Ottawa City Hall in 1990.The building is apparently haunted by the ghost of Eliza Bolton, a former teacher of the school.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/lisgar-street-elgin-street/64/
102 LisgarLocated across the street from City Hall, this lot has been deserted for decades before Charlesfort Developments show some interests by building the Merit, this condo tour with art deco style.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/102-lisgar/63/
Row Houses on Wellington StreetThis former block on Wellington Street in Ottawa were the last series of buildings before hitting Pooley's bridge that would lead to LeBreton Flats. &nbsp;We can see the walls of the bridge on the left-hand side on the picture.After the intervention of the NCC, the area was turned into a moribund and underuse place which is an aberration for a lot of this size in the downtown core. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/row-houses-on-wellington-street/61/
Brading Breweries on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/brading-breweries-on-wellington/60/
102 Lisgarhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/102-lisgar/59/
Brading Breweries on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/brading-breweries-on-wellington/58/
College Institute from Queen Elizabeth Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/college-institute-from-queen-elizabeth-drive/57/
Brading Breweries on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/brading-breweries-on-wellington/56/
College Institute on Lisgarhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/college-institute-on-lisgar/55/
Bay Street @ Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bay-street-wellington/54/
St-Patrick Street Meeting Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/st-patrick-street-meeting-sussex-drive/53/
National Gallery and the American Embassyhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/national-gallery-and-the-american-embassy/52/
George Street and Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/george-street-and-sussex-drive/51/
Bruyère Street at Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bruyere-street-at-sussex-drive/50/
Notre-Dame Basilica corner St-Patrick and Sussex Drivehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/notre-dame-basilica-corner-st-patrick-and-sussex-drive/49/
Wellington Street between Bay and Lyon Streetshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-between-bay-and-lyon-streets/48/
Scott Blockhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/scott-block/46/
Former Square at du Pont and Main Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-square-at-du-pont-and-main-street/45/
Place du Portage IVhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/place-du-portage-iv/44/
Place du Portage IIIhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/place-du-portage-iii/43/
Place du portage IIFormer Main Street in downtown Hull showing the Block Scott on the left-hand side. &nbsp;The archival photo also shows the streetcar and its rails that used to service the streets of Hull several decades ago.The ambiance on Main Street, now Promenade du Portage, has considerably changed. &nbsp;Back in the day, no building on that street had more than 4 stories which made them closer to human-scale. &nbsp;Brutalism and out-of-scale buildings no doubt contributed to drastically changed the ambiance and the vocation of that main street of Hull.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/place-du-portage-ii/42/
Portagehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/portage/41/
Maison Aubry - Place du Portagehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/maison-aubry-place-du-portage/40/
Windsor Hotel in Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/windsor-hotel-in-hull/39/
Somerset & Cartier Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/somerset-cartier-street/38/
Somerset Street in Chinatownhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/somerset-street-in-chinatown/37/
Bank & Somerset Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-somerset-street/36/
Sappers and Dufferin Bridgeshttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sappers-and-dufferin-bridges/35/
Windsor HotelThe hotel burned down in 1927.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/windsor-hotel/34/
Hull Electric Companyhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/hull-electric-company/33/
Eddy Corporationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/eddy-corporation/32/
Tip Top Garage - Sparks and Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/tip-top-garage-sparks-and-wellington-street/31/
Former Sparks and Wellington Intersectionhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-sparks-and-wellington-intersection/30/
412 Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/412-wellington-street/29/
Du Pont Street - Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/du-pont-street-hull/28/
Du Pont Street Renamed Eddy Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/du-pont-street-renamed-eddy-street/27/
Chez Henrihttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/chez-henri/26/
Le Capitole - Hullhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/le-capitole-hull/25/
Cooper Street @ ElginThe north side of Cooper Street close to Elgin Street in Ottawa remained more or less the same. &nbsp;However, the beautiful row-houses located on the south side of Cooper Street have been replaced by a commercial building.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/cooper-street-elgin/24/
Union StationThe Ottawa Union Station was inaugurated in 1912. &nbsp;One would say that it is a one fifth of the size of the former Pennsylvania Station of New York, which was destroyed in 1963.Despite the orginal plan to destroy the Ottawa Union Station (it was supposed to be replaced by yet another park!?), it was&nbsp;saved&nbsp;from demolition when the National Capital Commission (NCC) decommissioned the railroad tracks on the east side of the Rideau canal. &nbsp;Interestingly enough, Gréber was calling for a railway bridge going through Upper Duck Island that would have connected the replacement stations for Ottawa and Gatineau.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/union-station/23/
Wellington Street @ Bank Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/wellington-street-bank-street/22/
Sun Life Building at the corner of Bank & Sparks Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sun-life-building-at-the-corner-of-bank-sparks-street/21/
Sparks Street @ Bank Street Looking East http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sparks-street-bank-street-looking-east-/20/
224 Wellington Streethttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/224-wellington-street/19/
Corry BlockBuilt in 1903, Corry Block was one of the first modern buildings in Ottawa. &nbsp;It was demolished in the 60s.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corry-block/18/
Sussex and Rideau Street IntersectionGréber had this genius idea back in 1938 to tear down this whole block to make sure that cars were moving smoothly in the core. &nbsp;We can read from the report:"It was proposed in our plans of 1938 to widen the space between the Chateau and the&nbsp;south side of Rideau Street by eliminating the Daly Building and the old buildings in front&nbsp;of it across Rideau Street. Such widening would make the left turn for automobiles and&nbsp;street cars much easier and provide more space for alternate stoppages by traffic lights."P.183&nbsp;His recommendations were implemented only partially though since the Daly Building remained until the late 1970s. &nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-and-rideau-street-intersection/17/
Corry Block next to Union Stationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corry-block-next-to-union-station/15/
Elgin Street @ Queen StreetThe whole block east of Elgin Street has been demolished in the late 30's to make room for the wider street that we all know nowadays. &nbsp;The NAC and the First World war Memorial succeeded the post office and the Russell House, a prestigious hotel in Ottawa.The building that is located on the left-hand side of the image was the Grand Union Hôtel.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-queen-street/14/
Rideau Canal and the old post officehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-and-the-old-post-office/13/
Canadian Museum of Naturehttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/canadian-museum-of-nature/12/
Rideau Canal with Union Stationhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-with-union-station/11/
Sussex and Rideau IntersectionIn the early 1900s, Sussex Street (renamed Sussex Drive in the 1950s), was quite different. &nbsp;First, Sussex Street was not the one way that we know today and cars, but mostly streetcars and horses were circulating in both directions.The Daly building, that we can see on the left on the photo, was the first tall building of the street. &nbsp;Sussex Street was a commercial street as shops and boutiques were present on both sides of the street which contrasts with the situation nowadays since government buildings (Revenue Agency and the American Ambassy) took over most of the west side of the street.&nbsp;http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/sussex-and-rideau-intersection/10/
The former Post Office on Wellingtonhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/the-former-post-office-on-wellington/9/
Former Hull Bankhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/former-hull-bank/8/
A Wider Elgin Street This picture was taken in 1939 just after Elgin Street was widened. Roxborough apartments (as well as many other buildings) were demolished to make room for the Confederation Park as proposed in the Greber Plan. To the far left, the First Baptist Church is hardly visible, while the Lord Elgin Hotel, built in 1941, did not exist at the time the picture was taken.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/a-wider-elgin-street-/7/
Elgin Street Looking towards the Old City Hallhttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/elgin-street-looking-towards-the-old-city-hall/6/
Bank of Canada at Wellington and Kent StreetSt. Andrew Church as now a new neighbour: the Bank of Canada.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bank-of-canada-at-wellington-and-kent-street/4/
Rideau Canal looking towards HullLooking north at the Rideau Canal, the canal itself has not changed much. However, its surroundings have matured with the addition of the Chateau Laurier, which was built between 1909 and 1912. It is also worth noting that the Hull landscape on the other side of the river went through drastic changes. The last train to cross the Ottawa River using the Alexandra Bridge was in 1966.&nbsp;One interesting fact is that the Rideau Canal was never used for its initial military intention.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/rideau-canal-looking-towards-hull/3/
Bay Street @ WellingtonThe south-east block of the Wellington and Bay street intersection was upgraded to the Veterans Affairs Department. &nbsp;It now hosts the Department of Justice.http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/bay-street-wellington/2/
Booth Street Looking South-Easthttp://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/booth-street-looking-south-east/1/